Sonographically guided core-needle biopsy in the diagnosis of superficial lymphadenopathy

This study was designed to evaluate the efficacy of ultrasound-guided percutaneous core-needle biopsy for establishing histopathologic diagnoses of palpable enlarged lymph nodes.

Thirty patients without a history of malignancy or recent infection underwent ultrasound-guided core-needle lymph node biopsies. Only patients with enlarged lymph nodes ranging from 1.5 to 3.5 cm in greatest diameter that had been present for more than 2 months were included in this study. Two cores from each lymph node were obtained by a freehand core-needle biopsy technique using a 7-MHz ultrasound transducer and an automatic spring-loaded biopsy gun with an 18-gauge cutting needle.

The histologic diagnoses were conclusive in 24 cases (80%) and inconclusive in 6 cases (20%). In the 24 conclusive cases, the lymph node enlargement was due to benign causes in 12 cases and malignancy in 12 cases. All specimens in the conclusive cases were sufficient for histologic diagnosis, but there was insufficient material for a diagnosis in 3 of the inconclusive cases. No complications were seen in this series.

Ultrasound-guided core-needle biopsy of enlarged lymph nodes is a safe, minimally invasive alternative to surgical biopsy, enabling a histologic diagnosis for treatment planning in most cases.