Diagnostic ultrasound-guided cutting needle biopsies in neuroblastoma: A safe and efficient procedure

Neuroblastoma (NB) is the most common extracranial solid tumor of childhood and accounts for 15% of deaths in pediatric oncology. Apart from the clinical stage at diagnosis, molecular factors are important for the characterization of the tumor and for decision on adequate treatment. Pretreatment diagnosis and molecular profiling are based on analysis of a tumor sample, obtained either by fine needle aspiration cytology (FNAC), cutting needle biopsy or open surgical biopsy. The method used depends on local tradition and routines. Ultrasound-guided cutting needle biopsy (UCNB) has been used at the Uppsala University Hospital since 1988 for diagnosis of pediatric solid tumors.

Medical records of 29 patients with NB who underwent pretreatment, diagnostic, ultrasound-guided needle biopsy were reviewed. Information extracted from the patients' records included: age at diagnosis, gender, tumor site, clinical stage, molecular profiling made on biopsies (e.g. MYCN status, ploidy and chromosomal aberrations), and UCNB complications (i.e. bleeding, pain, or anesthesiologic complications).

A total of 34 UCNBs were performed in the 29 patients. Repeated biopsies were done in three patients. UCNB was diagnostic in 90% (26/29). A complete molecular profiling was obtained in all UCNBs after 2008. Two patients (7%) developed a significant bleeding and two (7%) needed analgesics following UCNB. Neither infection nor tumor growth in the needle tract was observed. There were no anesthesiologic complications.

UCNB is reasonably safe in patients with NB and usually gives a sufficient amount of tumor tissue for a histological diagnosis, molecular profiling, and biobank storage.