Efficiency of Fine-Needle Aspiration (FNA) in Relation to Tru-Cut Biopsy of Lateral Neck Swellings.

Background Lateral neck masses have always been difficult to diagnose without proposing a differential diagnosis. Fine-needle aspiration (FNA) was proposed to be a cost-effective method and less invasive than a tru-cut biopsy and may provide a provisional diagnosis in relation to cytopathology. FNA has also been shown to improve the diagnosis of neck masses such as cervical lymphadenopathy, neck cysts, and parotid masses, whether malignant or benign. This study aims to evaluate the accuracy of FNA cytopathology versus a tru-cut biopsy histopathological examination. Materials and methods This study was conducted retrospectively in King Hussein Medical Hospital, Royal Medical Services, Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, from January 2019 to January 2024. Ethical approval was taken to conduct this study with reference number 06/2024. All patients included in this study have given verbal and written consent to perform FNA and surgical tru-cut biopsy. The inclusion of patients was based on any person above the age of 16 who underwent an FNA followed by a surgical biopsy to correlate with the primary diagnosis. Exclusion criteria involved any patient who missed one of the above criteria. Statistical analysis was performed using IBM SPSS v29 (IBM Corp., Armonk, NY, US) with significant results considered with a p-value <0.05. Results A total of 107 patients were included in this study. A correlation between FNA results and final histopathological biopsy was done with an accuracy of 90.6%, specificity of 94.3, predictive positive value of 73.6%, and negative predictive value of 94.3%. There was a statistical significance between FNA and tru-cut biopsy with a p-value of <0.001. Conclusion FNA is a great tool to consider when diagnosing lateral neck swellings. Since it was statistically significant, FNA should be considered for any lateral neck swelling before any surgical tru-cut biopsy for a definitive diagnosis.

A Case of Amyloid Goitre in Heavy Chain Amyloidosis: Diagnostic Challenges and Clinical Implications.

Immunoglobulin heavy chain amyloidosis (AH amyloidosis) is an extremely rare subtype of immunoglobulin-derived amyloidosis and there is limited literature on how to diagnose and manage this disorder. We describe a rare case of AH amyloidosis with amyloid goitre and the importance of mass spectrometry in the identification of the different types of amyloids. While additional studies are needed, several observations suggest important practical implications, including differences in clinical picture, prognosis, and pathologic diagnosis. LEARNING POINTS: Immunoglobulin heavy chain amyloidosis is an extremely rare subtype of immunoglobulin-derived amyloidosis and amyloid goitre is even rarer.There is limited literature on how to diagnose and manage this disorder.This case portrays one of these cases - one of the few existing in the literature - and reinforces the diagnostic complexity of this entity.

A case of lung adenocarcinoma developing chylothorax after transthoracic Tru-cut biopsy.

Chylothoraces are mostly secondary to trauma and tumors, and rarely idiopathic. Chylothoraces secondary to lung tumors are mostly seen postoperatively. In this article, we, for the first time, present massive chylothorax developing after diagnostic transthoracic Tru-cut biopsy in a lung adenocarcinoma case. The patient was successfully treated with drainage and octreotide. In conclusion, it should be kept in mind that chylothorax can be also seen as a complication after interventional biopsy procedures; therefore, the patients should be followed carefully.

Histology profiling of lung tumors: tru-cut versus full-core system for CT-guided biopsies.

PURPOSE: We aimed to compare the diagnostic yield and procedure-related complications of two different types of systems for percutaneous CT-guided lung biopsy. MATERIAL AND METHODS: All patients with a lung lesion who underwent a CT-guided lung biopsy at our institution, between January 2019 and 2021, were retrospectively analyzed. The inclusion criteria were: (a) Procedures performed using either a fully automated tru-cut or a semi-automated full-core biopsy needle, (b) CT images demonstrating the position of the needles within the lesion, (c) histopathological result of the biopsy and (d) clinical follow-up for at least 12 months and\or surgical histopathological results. A total of 400 biopsy fulfilling the inclusion criteria were selected and enrolled in the study. RESULTS: Overall technical success was 100% and diagnostic accuracy was 84%. Tru-cut needles showed a significantly higher diagnostic accuracy when compared to full-core needles (91% vs. 77%, p = 0.0004) and a lower rate of pneumothorax (31% vs. 41%, p = 0.047). Due to the statistically significant different of nodules size between the two groups, we reiterated the statistical analysis splitting our population around the 20 mm cut-off for nodule size. We still observed a significant difference in diagnostic accuracy between tru-cut and full-core needles favoring the former for both smaller and larger lesions (81% vs. 71%, p = 0.025; and 92% vs. 81%; p = 0.01, respectively). CONCLUSION: Our results demonstrated that the use of automated tru-cut needles is associated with higher histopathological diagnostic accuracy compared to semi-automated full-core needles for CTLB.

A rare case of squamous cell carcinoma within the necrotic mass of acute necrotizing pneumonia: when cancer strikes unpredictably.

Introduction and importance: This case report presents an intriguing instance of a 35-year-old nonsmoker female who exhibited a convergence of acute necrotizing pneumonia (ANP) and squamous cell carcinoma (SCC), two distinct pulmonary conditions. ANP involves severe lung infection and tissue necrosis, while SCC is a non-small cell lung carcinoma originating from the bronchial epithelium. Such a unique combination in a nonsmoker female patient emphasizes the intricate interplay of diverse pulmonary pathologies and the importance of comprehensive diagnostic evaluation and effective patient management strategies. Case presentation: The patient's symptoms include fever, pain, cough, and sporadic hemoptysis. Initial imaging suggested ANP due to a multilobulated necrotic lung mass. Despite empirical antibiotic therapy, no improvement occurred, prompting further investigation. Positron emission tomography and computed tomography revealed intense fluorodeoxyglucose avidity in the lesion. A computer tomography-guided Tru-cut biopsy confirmed non-small cell carcinoma with squamous differentiation in the necrotic mass. Clinical discussion: ANP is a severe manifestation of pneumonia, predominantly affecting young, healthy individuals, while SCC, commonly linked to smoking, presents as non-small cell lung carcinoma. Overlapping symptoms and radiological findings complicate diagnosis. Early diagnosis and appropriate management are crucial for both conditions to prevent progression and complications. Conclusion: This case highlights the significance of precise diagnosis and adaptable treatment approaches. The coexistence of ANP and SCC in a nonsmoker female patient underscores the necessity of meticulous diagnostic evaluation and personalized treatment strategies. The scarcity of such presentations emphasizes the need for further research to comprehend the mechanisms underlying these occurrences.

The Diagnostic Value of Fine-Needle Aspiration Cytology in Cervical Lymphadenopathy in Correlation to Postoperative Histopathological Results in a Tertiary Care Center in Saudi Arabia.

Background Lymphadenopathy is a frequently encountered presentation in the clinical practice. Cervical lymphadenopathy implies that the cervical nodal tissue measures more than 1 cm in diameter. It requires prompt and accurate diagnosis to begin an appropriate treatment plan. Fine-needle aspiration cytology (FNAC) is considered an initial diagnostic method due to its simplicity, minimal invasiveness, quick availability of results, and low risk of complications. This study aimed to evaluate the diagnostic value of FNAC by comparing the cytological and histological diagnoses of patients with cervical lymph node enlargement at Aseer Central Hospital, Southern Region, Saudi Arabia. Methodology This observational, retrospective, record review study was conducted at the Otorhinolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery Department in Aseer Central Hospital, Abha, Saudi Arabia. Using a data collection sheet, the data of 102 patients were collected from electronic records and reviewed retrospectively. The study included patients who underwent cervical lymph node excision biopsy between 2020 and 2023 due to enlargement of the cervical lymph node. The cytological diagnoses were compared with the histopathological diagnoses of the same enlarged cervical lymph nodes. Results The most common FNAC findings were lymphomas and reactive lymph nodes (26.2% and 19.7%, respectively). The positive predictive value of FNAC was 100% and the negative predictive value was 86.7%. Overall, the diagnostic accuracy was 95.3%. Conclusions FNAC is a safe diagnostic method with minimal invasiveness and complications. This study showed that FNAC and tru-cut biopsy have good diagnostic value in examining patients with cervical lymphadenopathy regardless of their limitations and drawbacks. They have good sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive values, and accuracy.

A Late Diagnosis of Visceral Leishmaniasis Using Tru-Cut Biopsy of the Spleen and Malaria Co-Infection - A Diagnostic Challenge: A Case Report in Somalia.

Background: Visceral leishmaniasis (VL) is fatal neglected parasitic illness caused by Leishmania donovani. The diagnosis remains a challenge due to the non-specific clinical symptoms, especially in areas where infections like malaria and limited access to diagnostic tools coexist. Here, we describe a case of late diagnosis of visceral leishmaniasis using tru-cut biopsy of the spleen and malaria co-infection. Case Presentation: Here case report, a 24-year-old patient from an endemic region of Somalia presented with fever, headache, abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, and weight loss for two months. Initially, the patient received symptomatic treatment and a blood transfusion but showed no improvement. Physical examination revealed fever, pallor, and hepatosplenomegaly. Laboratory tests showed pancytopenia and positive rapid diagnostic test for plasmodium parasite antigen. Despite three days of anti-malarial treatment, the symptoms persisted, and hepatosplenomegaly worsened. Further investigations, including infectious disease tests, were conducted, ruling out HIV, viral hepatitis, Brucella, and Leishmania antibodies. Peripheral blood smear showed pancytopenia and bone marrow aspiration revealed no evidence of infection or malignancy. A tru-cut biopsy of the spleen was performed, confirming the diagnosis of visceral leishmaniasis. The patient received a combination therapy of sodium stibogluconate and paromomycin, leading to significant improvement. After completing treatment, the patient was discharged with normal spleen biopsy results. Conclusion: Visceral leishmaniasis (VL) is a challenging disease to diagnose, especially in areas where it coexists with other infectious diseases, such as malaria. Co-infection with malaria should also be considered in patients with fever and hepatosplenomegaly. A high index of suspicion is necessary for the timely diagnosis of VL, and a tru-cut biopsy of the spleen can be conducted in cases where other investigations are inconclusive in endemic areas. Early diagnosis and prompt treatment of visceral leishmaniasis are crucial to prevent complications and reduce mortality.

A Large Mass Displaying a Malignant Character on the Forearm: A Rare Case of Upper Extremity Pilomatrixoma.

In this study, a 50-year-old male patient had a painless swelling on his right forearm. The lump on the forearm started one year ago and increased in size in the last two months. The mass was 3x6 cm and had a malignant appearance on radiological imaging. The case was reported as pilomatrixoma in the histopathological examination after marginal excision. In this case report, we emphasized that pilomatrixoma is one of the diagnoses we considered in mass formations that can be seen in the upper extremity, although rare. The large mass displaying a malignant character in radiological imaging can be pilomatrixoma, and the Tru-cut biopsy before the final surgery may help diagnosis by preventing the surgeons from aggressive surgical treatment. The marginal excision shall be enough in the definitive treatment. With this study, we aimed to discuss the place of pilomatrixoma in the orthopedic literature, which is published chiefly by otolaryngology, pathology, and dermatology clinics and lacks in the orthopedic literature because it rarely involves the extremities.

A Case of Malignant Myxofibrosarcoma With Hypoglycemia Attacks.

Myxofibrosarcoma is a malignant mesenchymal tumor and a fibroblastic sarcoma of the elderly. Myxofibrosarcoma can be low-grade or high-grade depending on the cell characteristics. Wide surgical resection with or without radiotherapy and chemotherapy is the basis of its treatment. Sometimes, tumor cells secrete insulin or insulin-like substances and cause hypoglycemia attacks. Here, we intend to demonstrate the role of early surgery to end hypoglycemia attacks and prevent recurrence and metastases. We also intend to show the insufficiency of tru-cut biopsy to distinguish between low- and high-grade myxofibrosarcoma. An 82-year-old male patient visited our clinic with a rapidly growing giant mass in the left retroscapular area and suffered from hypoglycemic attacks several times a day. After imaging and initial biopsy, the tumor grade was indeterminate on histopathological examination; hence, the mass was removed surgically. The pathological examination resulted in high-grade myxofibrosarcoma whereas the initial biopsy could not elaborate on the grade. The hypoglycemia attacks ceased after the surgery. Adjuvant local radiotherapy at a total dose of 60 Gy was administered in 30 fractions to the surgery area with no complications after the surgery. No new mass, recurrence, or hypoglycemia attack was detected in the three-year follow-up. In conclusion, hypoglycemia attacks may be a marker of malignant tumor presence and may be a clue at the beginning and in the follow-up period both for recurrence and the aggressiveness of the tumoral mass. Because a biopsy may show the diagnosis but not the grade of the tumor, early surgical intervention is needed.

Tru-Cut Biopsy in Gynecological Cancer: Adequacy, Accuracy, Safety and Clinical Applicability.

Purpose: Tru-cut biopsy is a minimally invasive technique used to obtain tissue samples for the diagnosis of tumors, especially in patients where primary surgery is not indicated. The aim of this study was to assess the adequacy, accuracy and safety of the tru-cut biopsy for diagnosis in gynecological cancer. Methods: A retrospective population-based review of 328 biopsies was conducted. The indications for tru-cut biopsies were diagnosis of primary tumors, metastases of gynecological and non-gynecological tumors, and suspected recurrences. A tissue sample was considered adequate when the quality/quality was sufficient to identify the subtype/origin of the tumor. Potential factors affecting adequacy were analyzed using logistic regressions analyses. Accuracy was defined as agreement between the diagnosis of the tru-cut biopsy and the postoperative histology. The therapy plan was registered, and the clinical applicability of the tru-cut biopsy was investigated. Complications within 30 days after the biopsy procedure were registered. Results: In total, 300 biopsies were identified as tru-cut biopsies. The overall adequacy was 86.3%, varying between 80.8% and 93.5%, respectively, when performed by a gynecological oncologist or a gynecologist with a subspecialty in ultrasound diagnosis. Sampling of a pelvic mass had a lower adequacy (81.6%) compared with sampling of the omentum (93.9%) or carcinomatosis (91.5%). The accuracy was 97.5%, and the complication rate was 1.3%. Conclusion: The tru-cut biopsy is a safe and reliable diagnostic method with a high accuracy and a good adequacy, depending on the site of the tissue sample, indications for the biopsy and the experience of the operator.

Tru-cut needle biopsy: A novel approach in the diagnosis of solid oral pathologies.

Nowadays, new biopsy techniques such as fine and wide needles are now employed instead of invasive biopsy techniques. Compared to open biopsy, true-cut needle biopsy has a number of advantages. It's quick and simple to do, can be done in an outpatient department, avoids incisions into previously irradiated skin, and has few risks. In order to examine malignant and benign tumours, there had been a debate in the past century on the utilisation and efficiency of tru-cut biopsy over Fine needle aspiration cytology (FNAC) and surgical biopsy in solid tumours. A non-odontogenic tumour that occurs in jaws, also classified as a fibro-osseous lesion of the jaw, is Cemento-Ossifying Fibroma. Clinically, these lesions occur as gradually growing, reaching an enormous size if not treated. In this article, a case of cemento-ossifying fibroma noticed in the maxilla with facial swelling is discussed and the diagnosis was done using a tru-cut needle biopsy.

Contribution of Outpatient Ultrasound Transvaginal Biopsy and Puncture in the Diagnosis and Treatment of Pelvic Lesions: A Bicenter Study.

BACKGROUND: The use of transvaginal ultrasound guided biopsy and puncture of pelvic lesions is a minimally invasive technique that allows for accurate diagnosis. It has many advantages compared to other more invasive (lower complication rate) or non-invasive techniques (accurate diagnosis). Furthermore, it offers greater availability, it does not radiate, enables the study of pelvic masses accessible vaginally with ultrasound control in real time, and it is possible to use the colour Doppler avoiding puncturing large vessels among others. The main aim of the work is to describe a standardized ambulatory technique and to determine its usefulness. METHODS: This is a retrospective study of ultrasound transvaginal punctures (core needle biopsies and cytologies) and drainages of pelvic lesions performed on an outpatient basis during the last two years. The punctures were made with local anesthesia, under transvaginal ultrasound guidance with an automatic or semi-automatic 18G biopsy needle with a length of 20-25 cm and a penetration depth of 12 or 22 mm. The material obtained was sent for anatomopathological, cytological and/or microbiological study if necessary. RESULTS: A total of 42 women were recruited in two centers. Fifty procedures (nine punctures, seven drains, and 34 biopsies) were performed. In five cases the punction and drain provided clinical relief in benign pelvic masses. Regarding material of the biopsies performed, 15 were vaginal in women previously histerectomized, finding 10 carcinomas, eight were ovarian tumours in advanced stages or peritoneal carcinomatosis obtaining the appropriate histology in each case, seven were suspicious cervical biopsies finding carcinomas in five of them, three were myometrial biopsies including one breast carcinoma metastasis in the miometrium and a benign placental nodule, and a periurethral biopsy was performed on a woman with a history of endometrial cancer confirming recurrence. The pathological diagnosis was satisfactory in all cases, confirming the nature of the lesion (25 malignant-ten vaginal recurrences of previous gynaecological cancers, eight cases of primary ovarian/peritoneal carcinoma, four new diagnosis of cervical malignant masses, one cervical metastasis of lymphoma, one periurethral recurrence of endometrial carcinoma and one recurrence of breast cancer in the myometrium-and 23 benign). The tolerance was excellent and no complications were detected. CONCLUSION: The ambulatory ultrasound transvaginal puncture and drainage technique is useful for obtaining a sample for pathological and microbiological diagnosis with excellent tolerance that can be used to rule out the recurrence of malignant lesions or progression of the disease, diagnose masses not accessible to gynecological exploration (vaginal vault, myometrium or cervix) and for early histologic diagnosis in cases of advanced peritoneal carcinomatosis or ovarian carcinoma as well as drainage and cytological study of cystic pelvic masses.

The utility of ultrasound-guided tru-cut biopsy in the diagnosis of occult breast carcinoma presenting as ovarian malignancy with multiple metastases: A case of unknown primary

@#This paper documents the utility of ultrasound-guided tru-cut biopsy in the diagnosis and subsequent management of a case of occult breast carcinoma presenting with multiple distant metastases in the absence of a primary breast lesion. She was initially diagnosed as primary ovarian malignancy with metastatic disease and subsequently underwent transvaginal ultrasound-guided tru-cut biopsy of the right ovarian mass. Histologic and immunohistochemical studies were consistent with a metastatic adenocarcinoma of breast origin. The patient underwent chemotherapy for primary breast carcinoma and has responded well.

Ultrasound-Guided Trans-Uterine Cavity Core Needle Biopsy of Uterine Myometrial Tumors to Differentiate Sarcoma from a Benign Lesion-Description of the Method and Review of the Literature.

Uterine sarcomas are rare, aggressive tumors with poor prognosis that can be further negatively affected by inadequate surgical approaches such as morcellation. There are no clinical and radiologic criteria for differentiating leiomyoma from malignant uterine tumors. However, some ultrasonography and magnetic resonance imaging findings may be informative. We present a technique of ultrasound-guided trans-uterine cavity (UG-TUC) core needle biopsy for uterine lesions. As the procedure is an in-organ biopsy, there is no risk of needle canal contamination. The technique also enables the biopsy of lesions inaccessible by the transvaginal tru-cut biopsy. The core needle of the automatic biopsy system is inserted via the cervical canal into the uterine cavity and is directed and activated at the myometrial lesion under ultrasound control. The standard local treatment of localized uterine sarcomas is en bloc total hysterectomy; for fibroids, there are multiple options including conservative management or tumorectomy and tumor morcellation using minimally invasive techniques. Fragmentation of the sarcoma significantly worsens oncologic outcomes and should therefore be avoided. The UG-TUC core needle biopsy of uterine lesions can complement imaging to obtain sufficient material for histologic and molecular analyses of suspected or undetermined lesions, thus facilitating treatment planning and decreasing the risk of unsuspected sarcomas.

Ultrasound-Guided Tru-Cut Biopsy in Gynecological and Non-Gynecological Pelvic Masses: A Single-Center Experience.

AIM: The aim of this study was to evaluate the feasibility of adequacy, accuracy, and safety of ultrasound-guided tru-cut biopsy in managing malignant and benign abdominopelvic masses in a selected population and critically discuss some issues in different situations, which deserve some reflections on those practices. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This is a retrospective study involving 42 patients who underwent transvaginal or transabdominal tru-cut biopsy between August 2017 and November 2021. The inclusion criteria were poor health status or primary inoperable advanced tumor, suspicion of recurrence or metastasis to the ovaries or peritoneum in gynecological and non-gynecological pelvic malignancies. Tissue samples were considered adequate if it was possible to determine the origin of the tumor, and immunohistochemistry could be performed. Diagnostic accuracy was assessed considering the agreement between tru-cut biopsy histology and final postoperative histology. RESULTS: It total, 44 biopsies were obtained from 42 patients (2 patients had repeat biopsies). The pathologist considered all pathological samples adequate (adequacy 100%). The final histology was consistent with tru-cut biopsy diagnosis in all but 2 cases (diagnostic accuracy 88.2%). If we consider only the cases that have carried out at least two diagnostic samples, accuracy rose to 94.1%. Pathological examinations from tru-cut samples showed 2 benign lesions (4.8%) and 40 malignant tumors (95.2%), divided into 19 advanced primary inoperable ovarian cancers, 7 primary advanced cervical cancers, 4 recurrent endometrial cancers, 3 recurrent cervical cancers, 3 recurrent ovarian cancers, 1 case of primitive peritoneal malignancy (leiomyosarcoma), and 3 non-gynecological cancers with a strong suspicion of metastases at ultrasound (2 cases of ovarian, colorectal cancer metastasis, and 1 case of pelvic site type B lymphoma metastasis). However, one case of minor complication related to the procedure was reported but not significant. CONCLUSIONS: The diagnostic adequacy, accuracy of the tru-cut biopsy, and safety were high. Pathological samples are representative of the disease and suitable for histological and immunohistochemical analysis.

Utility of tru-cut biopsy in diagnosis of palpable pediatric soft tissue neoplasms.

Context: Soft tissue neoplasms are infrequent in children with sarcomas accounting for approximately 7% of all pediatric malignancies. Morphologic diagnosis is challenging due to overlapping features. Subtyping and categorization of these lesions are difficult on fine-needle aspiration cytology (FNAC) alone owing to tumor heterogeneity and limited material in some cases. Tru-cut biopsies obtain adequate tumor tissue for ancillary studies besides conventional histology. Aim: The study aims to explore the role of tru-cut biopsy to arrive at a definitive diagnosis. The study also highlights the correlation between FNAC and histopathology on tru-cut biopsy besides explaining the significance of a panel of immunohistochemistry (IHC) markers for histological categorization and subtyping. Materials and Methods: A total of 61 children from infancy to 18 years were included in the study. Closed biopsy procedures like FNAC and tru-cut biopsy were performed, and the tru-cut biopsy specimen was subjected to a panel of immunohistochemical markers. Results: Fisher's exact test for sensitivity and specificity towards detection of malignancy was 83% and 86%, respectively for FNAC. For tru-cut biopsy, sensitivity was 94% and specificity was 91%. The two-sided P value (<0.0001) was extremely significant. Cohen's Kappa coefficient value for tru-cut biopsy was 0.772 suggesting a substantial strength of agreement. Tru-cut with IHC had a Kappa value of 0.866 suggesting greater agreement with histopathology. Conclusion: Tru-cut biopsy is a simple, safe, and reliable adjunct to the FNAC. Instead, immunohistochemistry enhances the diagnostic accuracy.

The Role of Ultrasound Guided Sampling Procedures in the Diagnosis of Pelvic Masses: A Narrative Review of the Literature.

Ultrasound-guided sampling methods are usually minimally invasive techniques applied to obtain cytological specimens or tissue samples, mainly used for the diagnosis of different types of tumors. The main benefits of ultrasound guidance is its availability. It offers high flexibility in the choice of sampling approach (transabdominal, transvaginal, and transrectal) and short duration of procedure. Ultrasound guided sampling of pelvic masses represents the diagnostic method of choice in selected patients. We carried out a narrative review of literatures regarding the ultrasound-guided methods of cytological and histological evaluation of pelvic masses as well as the positive and negative predictors for the achievement of an adequate sample.

A rare phenotype of breast hydatid cyst causing misdiagnosis and unnecessary intervention: a case report.

Hydatid cyst (cystic echinococcosis) is a chronic parasitic infection by the larval stage of the cestode that is called Echinococcus granulosus (E. granulosus) resulting in the development of cystic lesions in animals and humans. In this report, we describe a rare phenotype of hydatid cyst in the breast of a 23-year-old female presented with breast mass in the left upper outer quadrant for 3 months with palpable left axillary lymph nodes. Both US and mammography provided a picture of complex suspicious cystosolid lesion with amorphous micro-calcification (BIRAD-4A). Surgical consultation was performed and Tru-Cut biopsy was recommended. Histopathology results revealed multiple viable protoscolices of E. granulosus and suggested the final diagnosis of breast hydatid cyst. The patient returned with ruptured and infected hydatid cyst of the breast and started treatment with Albendazole 400 mg twice daily in addition to antibiotics. Following-up after two months of Albendazole treatment showed a dramatic shrinkage in the size of the cystic lesion. In conclusion, hydatid cyst should be considered as a differential diagnosis of any cystic or cystosolid lesion in the breast and any organ in the body from head to toe apart from the hair and nails. Radiologists should be aware to the benign lesions that may mimic breast cancer to avoid misdiagnosis and unnecessary invasive procedures and consequent complications.

Transvaginal Ultrasound-Guided Core Biopsy-Experiences in a Comprehensive Cancer Centre.

In this paper, we report our experience of transvaginal ultrasound (TVUS)-guided core biopsies involving 303 patients referred to the gynaecological ultrasound unit of our national comprehensive cancer centre. Adequate histologic specimens were obtained in 299 patients (98.7%). The most common sites of biopsy sampling were the adnexa (29.7%), the vaginal stump or wall (13.5%), the uterus (11.6%) and the peritoneum (10.2%). Malignancy was confirmed in two-thirds of patients (201/303) and a primary malignancy was diagnosed in 111 of the 201 histologically verified malignant cases (55.2%). Interestingly, 23.9% (48/201) of malignant tumours were proven to have a non-gynaecological origin. Among them, gastrointestinal tumours occurred the most frequently (31/48 patients). Three abscesses were discovered following the biopsy procedure, resulting in a complication rate of 1%. In 94 (31%) patients, subsequent surgery allowed the comparison of the ultrasound-guided and surgically obtained histologic results. We found inaccuracy in 12 cases (12.8%), which is discussed in this paper in detail. Sensitivity, specificity, PPV and NPV to diagnose malignancy was 94.8%, 94.1%, 98.7% and 80.0%, respectively. This is the largest study reported to date about the efficacy and safety of TVUS-guided core biopsy in evaluating pelvic lesions giving rise to a suspicion of gynaecological cancer.

Evaluation of the Forsvall biopsy needle in an ex vivo model of transrectal prostate biopsy - a novel needle design with the objective to reduce the risk of post-biopsy infection.

BACKGROUND: Transrectal prostate biopsy (TRbx) transfers colonic bacteria into prostatic tissue, potentially causing infectious complications, including sepsis. Our objective was to determine whether biopsy needle shape, surface properties and sampling mechanism affect the number of bacteria transferred through the colon wall, and evaluate a novel needle with improved properties. METHODS: The standard Tru-Cut biopsy needle used today was evaluated for mechanisms of bacterial transfer in a pilot study. A novel Tru-Cut needle (Forsvall needle prototype) was developed. TRbx was simulated using human colons ex-vivo. Four subtypes of the prototype needle were compared with a standard Tru-Cut needle (BARD 18 G). Prototype and standard needles were used to puncture 4 different colon specimens in 10 randomized sites per colon. Needles were submerged into culture media to capture translocated bacteria. The media was cultured on blood agar and then the total amount of transferred bacteria was calculated for each needle. The primary outcome measure was the percent reduction of bacteria translocated by the prototype needles relative to the standard needle. Secondary outcome measures were the effects of tip design and coating on the percent reduction of translocated bacteria. RESULTS: Prototype needles reduced the number of translocated bacteria by, on average, 96.0% (95% confidence interval 93.0-97.7%; p < 0.001) relative to the standard needle. This percent reduction was not significantly affected by prototype needle tip style or surface coating. CONCLUSIONS: The Forsvall needle significantly reduces colonic bacterial translocation, suggesting that it could reduce infectious complications in prostate biopsy. A clinical trial has been initiated.