Investigation of CT guided percutaneous incisional needle biopsy in parapharyngeal region for suspicious nasopharyngeal carcinoma / 中华肿瘤杂志

ABSTRACT

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the safety and efficacy of percutaneous incisional needle biopsy (PINB) in the parapharyngeal region under CT guide for highly suspicious nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) or recurrence of NPC after radiotherapy.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>PINB under CT guide was performed in 32 highly suspicious NPC or recurrence of NPC after radiotherapy through three puncture routes posterolateral maxillary sinus fatty area, mandibular fossa area, and anterior-mastoid area. Specimens were fixed by 95% alcohol and then underwent pathologic examination.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>CT guided PINB was successfully performed in every patients with a technical successful rate of 100%. Definitive histopathologic diagnosis was obtained in 30 patients squamous-cell carcinoma 21, undifferentiated carcinoma 5 and adenocarcinoma 4. The remaining two negative cases were confirmed as fibrosis after radiotherapy. Complications included persistent bleeding of puncture point in one patient and bloody sputum in 3 patients which subsided after symptomatic management. None of these patients was found to have symptoms of nerve injury caused by PINB procedure.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The CT guided percutaneous incisional needle biopsy in parapharyngeal region through the above three puncture routes for highly suspicious nasopharyngeal carcinoma is safe, rapid and effective.</p>