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>