Ultrasound-guided core needle biopsy (CNB) of pelvic masses in gynecology

Introduction A biopsy may be indicated in patients with suspected advanced ovarien malignancy or a history of gynecologic malignancy and a suspected disease recurrence.

The aim of our study was to retrospectively evaluate indications, feasibility, diagnostic accuracy and safety of CNB performed in our gynecologic cancer center.

Material/Methods We reviewed the medical records of 29 patients who underwent transvaginal or transabdominal US-guided core biopsy between May 2017 and January 2020. Biopsies were performed after a detailed gynecologic ultrasound (GE Healthcare, Voluson E 10).

For the biopsies we use an automatic biopsy gun (BARD^® Magnum^® Reusable Core Biopsy) an 18 Gauge/25 cm needle (transvaginal) and an 14-16 Gauge/15-20 cm needle (transabdominal).

We evaluated the indications, diagnostic accuracy and complication rate of the procedures.

Results 23 transvaginal and 6 transabdominal CNBs were performed. Indications for CNB were patients with advanced ovarian, primary inoperable malignancies (n = 10), inoperable patients due to comorbidities (n = 3), patients with suspicion of metastases/recurrence of gynecologic malignancies (n = 11) and patients with tumors of unknown origin (n = 5).

An adequate sample for histological analysis was obtained in all cases. All procedures were tolerated with minimal discomfort on an outpatient basis. Of the 29 lesions, 28 were confirmed to be either benign (n = 9) or malignant (n = 19). One lesion was not histopathologically diagnosed after biopsy. A CT scan guided biopsy showed an adiponecrosis. No complications occurred during or after CNB procedures.

Conclusion Transvaginal and transabdominal ultrasound guided biopsy seems to be a feasible and safe procedure for histopathologic diagnosis of pelvic masses.

Interessenkonflikt

Es bestehen keine Interessenkonflikte.

Publication History

Article published online:
07 October 2020