[CT-guided needle biopsy in malignant lymphoma: current techniques and its usefulness]

Histological examination of adequate biopsy specimens is fundamental to the management of patients with malignant lymphoma. Core-needle biopsy with computed tomography potentially provides a better basis for this assessment. Image-guided needle biopsy should be the first procedure performed in the diagnosis of lymphoma, except in easily accessible superficial neck, inguinal, and axillary nodal sites. Recent studies have shown a diagnostic accuracy of 83% to 87%. We describe the biopsy technique that have been successful in our personal experience. From our experience, CT-guided core-needle biopsies prove sufficient information for the diagnosis of and subsequent therapeutic decision to treat most cases of lymphoma.