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Comparative Study
. 2019 Mar;101(3):193-196.
doi: 10.1308/rcsann.2018.0201. Epub 2018 Nov 28.

The role of core needle biopsies in the management of neck lumps

A Kalra  1 , G-M Prucher  1 , S Hodges  1
Affiliations
Comparative Study

The role of core needle biopsies in the management of neck lumps

A Kalra et al. Ann R Coll Surg Engl. 2019 Mar.

Abstract

Introduction: King's College Hospital has proudly provided a one-stop neck lump clinic since 2012. These multidisciplinary clinics allow for rapid diagnoses due to in-clinic investigations. In April 2013, ultrasound-guided core needle biopsies were introduced as an alternative/adjunct to fine-needle aspiration cytology and open biopsies for obtaining histological diagnoses. The aim of the study was to assess the impact of core needle biopsies on the diagnosis of neck lumps compared with fine-needle aspiration cytology and open biopsies between April 2015 and May 2016.

Materials and methods: Data were collected prospectively between April 2015 and May 2016 and analysed for numbers of fine-needle aspiration cytology, core needle biopsies and open biopsies performed and diagnoses made.

Results: A total of 190 patients were seen on the clinic; 51 had fine-needle aspiration cytology and 19 procedures gave a diagnosis. Of the remainder of these patients, 21 went on to have a core needle biopsy and 12 biopsies gave a diagnosis. An additional eight patients only had a core needle biopsy, of which five biopsies gave a diagnosis. Of the ten patients who had an open biopsy, four had a previous fine-needle aspiration cytology and core needle biopsy, three only a core needle biopsy, two had neither and one had fine-needle aspiration cytology.

Conclusion: The introduction of core needle biopsies has reduced the number of open biopsies performed. With increasing acceptance of this minimally invasive technique, core needle biopsies appear to be forming the key diagnostic investigation in patients with neck lumps.

Keywords: Core needle biopsy; Fine-needle biopsy; Pathology.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Management of patients assessed in the neck lump clinic.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Percentage of patients with neck lumps undergoing fine-needle aspiration cytology, core needle biopsies and open biopsies between 2012 and 2016.
Figure 3
Figure 3
Mean days to diagnosis for patients who underwent fine-needle aspiration cytology, core needle biopsies and open biopsies in 2012–2013 compared with 2015–2016.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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