Comparison of Ultrasound-Guided Fine-Needle Aspiration Biopsy with Core-Needle Biopsy in the Evaluation of Thyroid Nodules

ObjectiveTo compare the diagnostic rate of ultrasound-guided fine-needle aspiration biopsy (FNAB) with the diagnostic rate of combined FNAB and core-needle biopsy in the evaluation of nodular thyroid disease.MethodsWe performed a retrospective case-control study by reviewing charts of patients who underwent ultrasound-guided FNAB and core-needle biopsy of the thyroid at a tertiary referral center from January 1999 to December 2001. Results were classified as diagnostic (negative, suspicious, or positive for malignancy) or nondiagnostic. These findings were compared with an age- and sex-matched control group who underwent only FNAB. Complications between the groups were reviewed.ResultsThe patient group consisted of 320 patients who underwent 340 ultrasound-guided fine-needle aspiration and core-needle biopsies of the thyroid; the control group consisted of 311 patients who underwent 340 FNABs. There was no significant difference in the nondiagnostic rates between groups—12.9% in patients who had FNAB–only compared with 10.9% in patients who had both procedures (proportion difference, -2.1%; 95% confidence interval, -7.0% to 2.9%; P = .41). There was a trend towards an increased incidence of hematoma and infection in the core biopsy group. In the group that underwent FNAB and core-needle biopsies, 10 patients (3.1%) developed biopsy-specific complications (hematomas in 8 patients, biopsy site infections in 2 patients). In the FNAB only group, 3 patients (1.0%) developed hematomas; there was no incidence of infection.ConclusionsIn the evaluation of thyroid nodules, the addition of core-needle biopsies to FNAB confers little benefit in decreasing the nondiagnostic rates and may be associated with increased complications. Core-needle biopsies should not be routinely performed in the evaluation of thyroid nodules, but rather, patient selection for the more invasive core biopsy should be done judiciously. (Endocr Pract. 2008;14:426-431)     

Computer-assisted stereotactic biopsy of intracranial lesions

The use of a computer program that allows the integration of stereotactically gathered CT, MRI and digital angiographic data in the planning of a biopsy trajectory is described. This system has been used to perform 447 stereotactic biopsies in 439 patients. Intracranial hemorrhages occurred in three patients; combined morbidity and mortality was less than 1%. Incorporation of angiographic data and visualization of the surgical trajectory enhances the safety and accuracy of stereotactic biopsy of intracranial lesions.     

Volume navigation with contrast enhanced ultrasound and image fusion for percutaneous interventions: first results

Objective

Assessing the feasibility and efficiency of interventions using ultrasound (US) volume navigation (V Nav) with real time needle tracking and image fusion with contrast enhanced (ce) CT, MRI or US.

Methods

First an in vitro study on a liver phantom with CT data image fusion was performed, involving the puncture of a 10 mm lesion in a depth of 5 cm performed by 15 examiners with US guided freehand technique vs. V Nav for the purpose of time optimization. Then 23 patients underwent ultrasound-navigated biopsies or interventions using V Nav image fusion of live ultrasound with ceCT, ceMRI or CEUS, which were acquired before the intervention. A CEUS data set was acquired in all patients. Image fusion was established for CEUS and CT or CEUS and MRI using anatomical landmarks in the area of the targeted lesion. The definition of a virtual biopsy line with navigational axes targeting the lesion was achieved by the usage of sterile trocar with a magnetic sensor embedded in its distal tip employing a dedicated navigation software for real time needle tracking.

Results

The in vitro study showed significantly less time needed for the simulated interventions in all examiners when V Nav was used (p<0.05). In the study involving patients, in all 10 biopsies of suspect lesions of the liver a histological confirmation was achieved. We also used V Nav for a breast biopsy (intraductal carcinoma), for a biopsy of the abdominal wall (metastasis of ovarial carcinoma) and for radiofrequency ablations (4 ablations). In 8 cases of inflammatory abdominal lesions 9 percutaneous drainages were successfully inserted.

Conclusion

Percutaneous biopsies and drainages, even of small lesions involving complex access pathways, can be accomplished with a high success rate by using 3D real time image fusion together with real time needle tracking.     

Use of intraoperative stimulation in the selection of target sites for CT-guided stereotactic biopsies

We have utilized intraoperative stimulation to establish the functional nature of tissue to be biopsied in 20 patients undergoing CT-guided stereotactic biopsies. We have performed from 1-4 stimulations at 2-100 Hz using a monopolar and/or bipolar electrode at the intended target sites. Thresholds for motor and sensory response have been obtained. Stimulation results have ranged from sensory changes to tonic/clonic motor activity of the contralateral body and face.     

The evolution of untreated borderline and subclinical rejections at first month kidney allograft biopsy in comparison with histological changes at 6 months protocol biopsies

Our study sought to identify the possible implications of histological findings of borderline and subclinical rejections as well as histological markers of chronic allograft nephropathy (CAN) in protocol biopsies at 1 and 6 months after living-related kidney transplantation. Twenty-eight paired allograft biopsies were blindly reviewed using Banff '97 criteria, among which only 10.7% (6/56) showed no histopathological lesions. BR was found in 9/28 (32.1%) and 6/28 (21.4%), and SR in 3/28 (10.7%) and 10/28 (35.7%) of the patients, in the 1 and 6 month biopsies, respectively. The mean CAN score (sum of histological markers for chronicity) increased significantly at 6 months biopsy, 1.57 +/- 1.36 vs. 4.36 +/- 2.32 (p < 0.01). When compared according to chronicity index (CI < 5 >), the high CI group had a mean CAN score of 2.36 +/- 1.15 at 1 month, which increased to 5.14 +/- 1.99 at 6 months biopsy (188.9%). The proportion of these changes in low CI group were also increased from 0.79 +/- 1.12 to 3.57 +/- 2.38 (451.9%). In conclusion, a protocol 1 month biopsy may uncover a high prevalence of BR or SR in stable allografts. The presence of an untreated BR or SR in biopsies with low chronicity index showed greater susceptibility to histological deterioration on the 6 month biopsy, associated with rapid impairment of graft function and chronic allograft nephropathy.     

A new apparatus for CT-guided stereotactic surgery

Combining whole-body CT scan with a stereotactic system, the authors have developed and applied clinically an apparatus which readily provides intraoperative CT images, making it possible to confirm the location of the target point and ascertain the intraoperative environment. It takes about 9 s to obtain a CT image. Our purpose is to make stereotactic surgery, a kind of blind surgery, as safe and reliable as a visualized procedure by intraoperative CT scanning. By the method, in which there is very little invasion under local anesthesia, evacuation of deep-seated intracerebral hematomas as well as brain abscesses and also biopsy or brachytherapy of brain tumors in the brain can be done with safety and reliability.     

The results after transrectal prostate biopsy with 12 biopsy cores taken

This report describes the clinical value of transrectal prostate biopsy during which 12 biopsy cores are taken in comparison to the classical sextant method. There were 106 patients included in the study, who had transrectal prostate biopsy (TRB) due to abnormal finding after digitorectal examination (DRE) and/or values of PSA > 4 ng/ml in the period from 4 October 2001 till 14 August 2002. There were 117 biopsies with 12 biopsy cores taken, 6 cores from each lobe. Prostate cancer was confirmed in 49 patients (46%). Out of total number of confirmed cancer cases, initial biopsy detected 94%. There were three patients who had suspicious DRE finding, with PSA value of < 4 ng/ml, but cancer was not detected in any of them. In the patient group with PSA value between 4-10 ng/ml, cancer was detected in 26% of them and in the group with PSA value > 10 ng/ml cancer was detected in 58%. The most common Gleason score in the case of cancer was 7 (43%). During the biopsy procedure, 3 patients experienced strong vasovagal reactions, meaning that out of 117 biopsies incidence of complications was 2.6%. Few days after the biopsy, two patients developed urogenital tract infections (1.7%) and right after the procedure, there was one case of strong hematuria (0.8%) and strong rectal bleeding (0,8%) that needed hospitalization. Our results regarding the incidence of complications do not differ much from the results in the literature. According to data in the literature regarding sextant biopsy, 15-34% of cancer cases remain undiagnosed at initial biopsy. The method of 12 biopsy cores fails to diagnose only 6% of all cancers, but it is important to note that in the mentioned period, re-biopsy was indicated only in 11 from 60 patients with negative biopsies.     

Preclinical mouse model of optical coherence tomography for subcortical brain imaging without dissection

The purpose of this study was to investigate the feasibility of using optical coherence tomography (OCT) to identify internal brain lesions, specifically intracerebral hemorrhage, without dissection. Mice with artificially injected brain hematomas were used to test the OCT system, and the recorded images were compared with microscopic images of the same mouse brains after hematoxylin and eosin staining. The intracranial structures surrounding the hematomas were clearly visualized by the OCT system without dissection. These images reflect the ability of OCT to determine the extent of a lesion in several planes. OCT is a useful technology, and these findings could be used as a starting point for future research in intraoperative imaging.     

CT-guided stereotactic aspiration of intracerebral hematoma--result of a hematoma-lysis method using urokinase

CT-guided stereotactic aspiration was performed in the CT room on 97 patients with hypertensive intracerebral hematomas, using a standard ventricular cannula. Residual hematomas were liquefied by urokinase and aspirated through the drainage tube. Major and minor rebleeding were seen in 7 cases. Two out of the 4 major rebleeding cases were followed by craniotomy, while the other cases were treated conservatively. More than 80% of the hematomas were aspirated in 68 cases, 50-70% in 19 cases and 30-40% in 6 cases. Operation in the CT room and hematoma lysis with urokinase is very useful for the aspiration of intracerebral hematomas.     

Stereotaxy and thalamic masses. Survey of 44 cases

Thalamic masses are generally considered inoperable; little is known of the precise nature of these lesions. Stereotactic biopsy was performed in 44 patients, with no mortality and low morbidity (only 1 case of transitory hemiparesis). The stereotactic biopsy (minimum 5 specimens taken along the major axis of the lesion) showed that the majority of the young patients (less than 40 years) had low-grade glial neoplasms (grade I-II astrocytomas or oligodendrogliomas), while in older patients highly malignant tumors prevailed. Beside the neoplasms in the children and adults, we found granulomas, abscesses, infarcts, hemorrhages and glioses. Present neuroradiological methods cannot establish a final correct diagnosis in thalamic lesions, so stereotactic biopsy is recommended. A follow-up of 1-6 years is presented for 7 patients who underwent stereotactic 125I brachytherapy.     

机化性肺炎患者的CT引导下经皮肺穿刺活检及其临床诊治分析

目的:探讨CT引导下经皮肺穿刺活检对机化性肺炎患者的诊断价值,并总结机化性肺炎的临床诊治经验。方法:回顾性分析2015年7月-2017年9月在南京医科大学附属常州第二人民医院住院行CT引导下经皮肺穿刺活检取得肺部病灶组织确诊为机化性肺炎的14例患者,所有患者行CT引导下经皮肺穿刺活检,总结机化性肺炎患者的临床诊治经验。结果:14例机化性肺炎患者平均年龄为59岁,平均起病时间为21天。主要临床症状以发热、咳嗽、咳痰为主。6例肺部听诊可闻及湿啰音。影像学检查主要表现为肺部斑片状不均匀密度增高影。所有患者初次就诊时均未首先诊断考虑机化性肺炎。所有患者入院后均行CT引导下经皮肺穿刺活检术,术后病理均确诊为机化性肺炎,术中3例出现少量气胸,4例出现少量出血,予吸氧止血等对症处理后好转。14例患者予糖皮质激素治疗后,主要临床症状改善,影像学检查均较前吸收好转。结论:对于持续性干咳、呼吸困难、发热病人,抗生素疗效差,影像学显示片状或块状影病灶,特别是游走性斑片阴影,需要高度警惕机化性肺炎。CT引导下经皮肺穿刺活检可作为明确机化性肺炎诊断的首选方法。机化性肺炎对糖皮质激素治疗敏感,可出现可逆性的好转,一旦确诊,建议及早使用糖皮质激素治疗。     

Calcitonin-specific antitumor immunity in medullary thyroid carcinoma following dendritic cell vaccination

In this study, we investigated the immune response following immunotherapy with calcitonin-pulsed dendritic cells (DC) in 7 patients with metastasized medullary thyroid carcinoma. After immunization with 1-5 x 10(6) autologous DC, significant calcitonin-specific T cell proliferation was detectable in 3 patients. Measurement of cytokine release from T lymphocytes demonstrated high post-treatment interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) secretion after stimulation with calcitonin in 5 patients, one of whom experienced significant tumor regression. In contrast, antigen-specific interleukin-4 (IL-4) production was only slightly increased in 4 patients. All 7 patients developed a strong delayed-type hypersensitivity (DTH) skin reaction, which was confirmed to be mediated by infiltrating CD4+ T-helper cells and CD8+ cytotoxic T cells in all 3 patients who underwent skin biopsy. This is the first study to show that a polypeptide hormone can be used to develop a DC vaccination strategy for the immunotherapy of highly malignant endocrine cancers.     

CT-guided stereotaxy: first 10-year experience

The authors present an overview on CT-guided stereotaxy performed in the last 10 years in the University Hospital Olomouc. During this period a total of 811 stereotactic brain operations were performed. Of these, 710 were done in the field of afunctional and 101 in the field of functional stereotaxy. The majority of procedures were biopsies of intracranial lesions (n = 464), evacuations of intracerebral hematomas with or without drainage and fibrinolysis (n = 147) and thalamotomies in patients with Parkinson's disease (n = 88). With the exception of the two years at the beginning, the number of yearly performed stereotaxies varied between 66-106 (mean, 86.9). Serious complications appeared after three procedures (0.37 %).     

The utility of sentinel lymph node biopsy in head and neck melanoma in the pediatric population

Intraoperative lymph node mapping and sentinel lymph node biopsy have proven beneficial techniques in staging adult patients with melanoma of the head and neck, where there is great variability in lymphatic drainage. This technique has also been applied to pediatric patients with truncal cutaneous melanomas in an effort to determine nodal status without the morbidity associated with complete lymph node dissection. Nevertheless, the utility of sentinel lymph node biopsy in head and neck melanoma in the pediatric population has not been established. The objective of the authors' study was to determine the clinical utility of intraoperative lymph node mapping and sentinel lymph node biopsy of head and neck melanoma in the pediatric population. The authors reviewed the records of seven pediatric patients with head and neck melanoma or borderline melanocytic proliferations of unknown biologic potential who underwent intraoperative lymph node mapping and sentinel lymph node biopsy between 1998 and 2001. All sentinel lymph node specimens were examined by a melanoma dermatopathologist for the presence of metastatic melanoma. The mean operative time for each case was 3 hours, 8 minutes (range, 2 hours, 15 minutes to 3 hours, 50 minutes). All seven pediatric patients who underwent extirpation of a primary head and neck melanoma and preoperative lymphoscintigraphy had unique and identifiable basins of drainage to regional nodal groups. Four of seven patients had at least one positive sentinel lymph node. Overall, five of 19 sentinel nodes (26 percent) resected had evidence of metastatic melanoma. Of the patients with positive sentinel lymph nodes, two of the primary lesions were diagnosed as melanoma while two were initially considered atypical melanocytic proliferations of uncertain biologic potential with melanoma in the differential diagnosis. Sentinel lymph nodes in pediatric patients with melanoma of the head and neck can be successfully mapped and biopsied, as in adult patients. In addition, this procedure can provide critical diagnostic information for those pediatric patients with diagnostically challenging, controversial, or borderline melanocytic lesions.     

Cystic Parathyroid Adenomas: An Enigmatic Entity and Role of Tc-99 m Sestamibi Scintigraphy

ObjectiveFunctional cystic lesion of the parathyroid gland is a rare cause of primary hyperparathyroidism (PHPT). They have been postulated to arise from the hemorrhage and cystic degeneration in the parathyroid adenoma (PA). We intended to analyze their scintigraphic and histopathological findings since available literature is sparse.MethodsDual-phase ^{99 m}Tc-sestamibi planar and SPECT/CT scans performed from January 2014 to January 2020 in patients presenting with PHPT were retrospectively analyzed. The clinical, biochemical, and ultrasound features were collected. Planar and SPECT/CT imaging parameters were analyzed. Detailed histopathological analysis, along with post-surgical clinical and biochemical features of the patients who underwent surgery, was reviewed with a mean follow-up of 21.8 ± 20.1 months.ResultsOf the 979 scans analyzed, 10 showed cystic parathyroid lesions (M:F- 3:7, mean age 45.6 ± 15 years, range: 23-66). The predominant presenting features in patients were abdominal pain and renal stone disease, present in 60% of the patients. On planar scintigraphy, 90% of the patients had tracer avid distinct lesions, whereas tracer activity was seen in the solid part of the cystic lesions in all 10 patients on SPECT/CT, with cystic areas showing an attenuation of 23.1 ± 7.6 HU. Eight of these patients underwent surgery, with all showing PA with cystic changes on histopathology. Two of these patients also showed hemorrhage within the cystic spaces.ConclusionHemorrhage within a PA may give rise to cystic parathyroid lesions with PHPT. ^{99 m}Tc-sestamibi scintigraphy with dual-phase imaging and SPECT/CT may help in detecting this rare entity.     

The Preliminary Study of 16α-[18F]fluoroestradiol PET/CT in Assisting the Individualized Treatment Decisions of Breast Cancer Patients

Objective

To evaluate the clinical value of 16α-[18F]fluoroestradiol (18F-FES) PET/CT in assisting the individualized treatment decisions of breast cancer patients.

Methods

Thirty-three breast cancer patients, who underwent both 18F-FES and 18F-FDG PET/CT from July 2010 to March 2013 in our center, were enrolled in this preliminary study. All the patients used 18F-FES PET/CT as a diagnostic tool with a clinical dilemma. We used the maximum Standardized Uptake Value (SUVmax) to quantify ER expression and a cutoff value of 1.5 to dichotomize results into ER positive and negative lesions. All patients were clinically followed up at least 6 months.

Results

In evaluating equivocal lesions on conventional work-up group (n = 4), three lung lesions and another iliac lesion were enrolled. As for three lung lesions, 18F-FES PET/CT showed one lesion with high uptake, which suggested it was an ER positive metastasis. The other two lesions were 18F-FES negative, which meant an ER negative metastasis or secondary primary tumor. Additionally, one iliac lesion was detected by MRI. 18F-FDG uptake was high at the suspected lesion, whereas 18F-FES uptake was absent; In predicting origin of metastasis group (n = 2), two breast cancer patients had secondary primary tumors were collected. They were 18F-FES negative, which showed low possibility of metastasis from breast cancer and they were all confirmed by biopsy. In detecting ER status in metastasis group (n = 27), 18F-FES PET/CT showed increased 18F-FES uptake in all metastatic lesions in 11 patients; absent in all lesions in 13 patients; and the remaining 3 patients had both 18F-FES positive and negative lesions. Totally, on the basis of the 18F-FES PET/CT results, we found changes in the treatment plans in 16 patients (48.5%, 16/33).

Conclusions

18F-FES PET/CT could assess the entire tumor volume receptor status; therefore, it may be used to assist the individualized treatment decisions of breast cancer patients.     

Biopsy Strategies for Endoscopic Surveillance of Pre‐malignant Gastric Lesions

Background: Endoscopic surveillance of pre‐malignant gastric lesions may add to gastric cancer prevention. However, the appropriate biopsy regimen for optimal detection of the most advanced lesions remains to be determined. Therefore, we evaluated the yield of endoscopic surveillance by standardized and targeted biopsy protocols. Materials and Methods: In a prospective, multi‐center study, patients with intestinal metaplasia (IM) or dysplasia (DYS) underwent a surveillance gastroscopy. Both targeted biopsies from macroscopic lesions and 12 non‐targeted biopsies according to a standardized protocol (antrum, angulus, corpus, cardia) were obtained. Appropriate biopsy locations and the yield of targeted versus non‐targeted biopsies were evaluated. Results: In total, 112 patients with IM (n = 101), or low‐grade (n = 5) and high‐grade DYS (n = 6) were included. Diagnosis at surveillance endoscopy was atrophic gastritis (AG) in one, IM in 77, low‐grade DYS in two, high‐grade DYS in three, and gastric cancer in one patient. The angulus (40%), antrum (35%) and lesser curvature of the corpus (33%) showed the highest prevalence of pre‐malignant conditions. Non‐targeted biopsies from the lesser curvature had a significantly higher yield as compared to the greater curvature of the corpus in diagnosing AG and IM (p = .05 and p = .03). Patients with extensive intragastric IM, which was also present at the cardia were at high risk of a concurrent diagnosis of dysplasia or gastric cancer. High‐grade DYS was detected in targeted biopsies only. Conclusions: At surveillance endoscopies, both targeted and non‐targeted biopsies are required for an appropriate diagnosis of (pre‐)malignant gastric lesions. Non‐targeted biopsies should be obtained in particular from the antrum, angulus and lesser curvature of the corpus.     

Studies on obtaining meiotic chromosomes for analysis in the bull. I. Testicular biopsy

Thirty-two healthy bulls, 12 to 16 mos of age, were biopsied using 20G 2″; 19G 1 1/2″, 18G 1 1/2″ or 16G 1 1/2″ needles attached to a 20 ml syringe. Semen was evaluated pre- and postbiopsy both qualitatively and quantitatively and tested for the presence of bacterial, fungal or viral contaminants. The testicles were measured and palpated pre- and postbiopsy and examined grossly and microscopically following castration or slaughter at intervals postbiopsy. There was no evidence of infection postbiopsy and, apart from the possibility of a transient drop in fertilizing ability during the first month following biopsy and a transient increase in the percentage of sperm with acrosomal ageing during the second and third months following biopsy, the semen appeared normal. It was concluded that the procedure is a safe and practical method of obtaining testicular tissue for meiotic analysis.     

Stereotactic CT scanning for the biopsy of intracranial lesions and functional neurosurgery

This report describes a system for incorporation of stereotactic CT scanning data, stereotactic arteriographic data and a computer-generated stereotactic atlas into a three-dimensional matrix utilizing an operating room computer. 86 patients have undergone computer-assisted stereotactic biopsies of intracranial lesions without mortality or neurologic morbidity. Neuroablative and neuroaugmentative procedures have been performed on 5 patients using the CT stereotactic atlas with good correlation with target points determined by ventriculography and microelectrode recording.