Fine-needle biopsy techniques of aspiration versus capillary in head and neck masses

Fine-needle aspiration and fine-needle capillary biopsy techniques were compared, and the number of samples necessary to assure a diagnostic specimen was determined. In this study, each mass served as its own control, since both aspiration and capillary fine-needle biopsy were performed randomly on each mass. The study found the number of "superior" slides to be evenly distributed between the two biopsy techniques, but a different preference, based on tumor type, was noted for one or the other technique. The "best" slides were obtained from one of the first four samples 92% of the time. The authors concluded that both fine-needle aspiration and capillary biopsy should be used and that three to four samples should be obtained to increase the likelihood of a diagnostic biopsy.