Current Salivary Glands Biopsy Techniques: A Comprehensive Review

Area of Science:

• Surgical Pathology
• Diagnostic Imaging
• Head and Neck Surgery

Background:

• Biopsy is crucial for diagnosing salivary gland diseases, requiring precise tissue collection.
• Various techniques exist for major and minor salivary glands, each with specific indications.
• Accurate diagnosis impacts treatment strategies for both neoplastic and non-neoplastic conditions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To provide a comprehensive overview of current major and minor salivary gland biopsy techniques.
• To compare the efficacy and limitations of ultrasound-guided fine-needle aspiration biopsy (US-FNAB) versus ultrasound-guided core needle biopsy (US-guided CNB) for oncological diagnosis.
• To assess the role of intra-operative frozen sections (IOFSs) in salivary gland procedures.

Main Methods:

• Systematic literature search using MeSH terms: biopsy, fine-needle biopsies, image-guided biopsies, frozen sections, and salivary glands disease.
• Comparative analysis of US-FNAB and US-guided CNB for neoplastic salivary gland lesions.
• Review of indications and complications for various salivary gland biopsy techniques, including minor salivary gland biopsy (MSGB).

Main Results:

• US-FNAB is the most common method for neoplastic lesions, but US-guided CNB offers improved diagnostic accuracy for non-neoplastic specimens.
• MSGB is the primary method for diagnosing inflammatory and autoimmune diseases of the salivary glands.
• IOFSs serve as a valuable adjunct for intraoperative diagnosis during salivary gland surgery.

Conclusions:

• The choice of biopsy technique depends on the clinical context, differentiating between neoplastic and non-neoplastic salivary gland diseases.
• US-guided CNB is emerging as a more accurate alternative to US-FNAB for specific diagnostic challenges.
• A thorough understanding of available biopsy methods ensures optimal diagnostic yield and patient management.