PT  - JOURNAL ARTICLE
AU  - Yung-Liang Wan
AU  - Siu-Cheung Chan
AU  - Yao-Liang Chen
AU  - Yun-Chung Cheung
AU  - Kar-Wai Lui
AU  - Ho-Fai Wong
AU  - Chuen Hsueh
AU  - Lai-Chu See
TI  - Ultrasonography-Guided Core-Needle Biopsy of Parotid Gland Masses
DP  - 2004 Oct 01
TA  - American Journal of Neuroradiology
PG  - 1608--1612
VI  - 25
IP  - 9
4099  - http://www.ajnr.org/content/25/9/1608.short
4100  - http://www.ajnr.org/content/25/9/1608.full
SO  - Am. J. Neuroradiol.2004 Oct 01; 25
AB  - BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: An accurate diagnosis of a parotid gland mass is essential for adequate management. We determined the clinical efficacy of USCNB in diagnosing parotid gland masses by using cutting needles of different bores.METHODS: We reviewed records for 40 benign and 13 malignant parotid lesions. USCNB was performed by using 14–20-gauge needles (mean, 16.6 gauge) with one to five (mean, 2.43) passes and a 15-mm throw or specimen notch. Final diagnoses were established on the basis of surgicopathologic results in 31 cases, and on the basis of histopathologic analysis of biopsy specimens, clinical data, and/or imaging studies in 22, with a follow-up of 12.2–77.5 months (mean, 33.6 months).RESULTS: Compared with surgicopathology, USCNB had a sensitivity of 83%, a specificity of 100%, and an accuracy of 97% in providing specific tissue diagnoses and in differentiating malignant from benign masses. Its positive and negative predictive values were100% and 96%, respectively, in diagnosing malignancy. One patient (2%) had a local hematoma without sequela after surgical removal of a Warthin tumor. Core biopsy results were completely concordant with surgical findings in 30 (97%) of 31 cases.CONCLUSION: USCNB is a safe and efficient diagnostic procedure with an accuracy of 97% in the pathologic diagnosis of parotid masses. It can be performed in an outpatient clinic and enables specific tissue diagnosis to obviate intraoperative frozen biopsy and unnecessary surgery. An 18-gauge needle is sufficient for accurate and specific tissue diagnosis of parotid masses.