Ultrasound-guided core needle biopsy compared with open biopsy: a new diagnostic approach to salivary gland enlargement in Sjögren’s syndrome?

Objective Persistent (≥2 months) major salivary gland enlargement in primary SS (pSS) patients is a well-known sign of possible involvement by B cell lymphoma. The study aimed to evaluate the diagnostic accuracy and safety of US-guided core needle biopsy (CNB) of major salivary glands compared with open surgical biopsy. Methods Prospective pSS patients (cases) with clinically persistent salivary gland enlargement underwent US-guided CNB and were compared with retrospective pSS patients (controls) submitted to open surgical biopsy. The features analysed were pre-biopsy clinical and laboratory findings, adequacy of the material for histology and diagnostic-rendered and biopsy-related complications (reported by the patient with a questionnaire and clinically verified). Results Thirteen cases underwent US-guided CNB: in nine, biopsy was performed on the parotid gland and in four it was performed on the submandibular gland. Sufficient material was obtained for pathological diagnosis in all samples. The final diagnoses were 5 (38.5%) B cell lymphoma, 1 (7.7%) lymphoepithelial sialadenitis, 4 (30.7%) other sialadenitis (granulomatous consistent with sarcoidosis, IgG4-related disease, chronic sclerosing, diffuse chronic) and 3/13 (23.1%) miscellaneous lesions. Thirteen controls underwent open surgical biopsy of the parotid. In one, inadequate material was obtained, while in 12 (92.3%) the pathologic diagnoses were 4 (33.3%) B cell lymphoma, 2 (16.7%) lymphoepithelial sialadenitis, 4 (33.3%) uncertain lymphoproliferative lesions and 2 (16.7%) miscellaneous lesions. Six cases (46.1%) reported six transient complications and 12/13 (92.3%) controls had 2 persistent and 14 transient complications. Conclusion US-guided CNB represents a novel, clinically relevant and safe approach for the management of pSS patients with parotid or submandibular persistent enlargement.

Ultrasound-guided core needle biopsy compared to open biopsy: a new diagnostic approach to major salivary gland enlargement in Sjögren’s syndrome

Objective Persistent (≥2 months) major salivary gland (SG) enlargement in primary Sjögren's syndrome (pSS) patients is a well-known sign of possible involvement by B-cell lymphoma. The study aimed to evaluate the diagnostic accuracy and safety of ultrasound-guided core needle biopsy (US-guided CNB) of major SGs in comparison to open surgical biopsy. Methods Prospective pSS patients (cases) with clinically persistent SG enlargement underwent US-guided CNB, and were compared to retrospective pSS patients (controls) submitted to open surgical biopsy. The features analyzed were pre-biopsy clinical and laboratory findings, biopsy-related complications (reported by the patient with a questionnaire and clinically verified), adequacy of the material for histology and diagnosis rendered. Results Thirteen cases underwent US-guided CNB: in 9/13 biopsy was performed on the parotid and in 4/13 on the submandibular gland. Sufficient material was obtained for pathological diagnosis in all samples. The final diagnoses were: 5/13 (38.5%) B-cell lymphoma, 1/13 (7.7%) lympho-epithelial sialadenitis, 4/13 (30.7%) other sialadenitis (granulomatous consistent with sarcoidosis, IgG4-related disease, chronic sclerosing, diffuse chronic) and 3/13 (23.1%) miscellaneous lesions. Thirteen controls underwent open surgical biopsy of the parotid, in one inadequate material was obtained, in 12 (92.3%) the pathologic diagnoses were: 4/12 (33.3%) B-cell lymphoma, 2/12 (16.7%) lympho-epithelial sialadenitis, 4/12 (33.3%) uncertain lymphoproliferative lesions, 2/12 (16.7%) miscellaneous lesions. 6/13 (46.1%) cases reported 6 transient complications, and 12/13 (92.3%) controls 2 persistent and 14 transient complications. Conclusion US-guided CNB represents a novel, clinically relevant and safe approach to the management of pSS patients with parotid or submandibular persistent enlargement.

Open Surgical Biopsy in Diagnosis of Mammographically Detected Suspicious Microcalcifications

Background: One of the earliest signs of breast cancer may be the presence of mammographically detected suspicious microcalcifications in the breast. The aim of the study was to present an open surgical biopsy of the mammographically detected suspicious microcalcifications in a breast, with preoperative wire marking of the lesions and intraoperative specimen radiography, as a reliable and valid procedure.Material and Methods: The study included 80 female patients underwent surgery because of mammographically detected suspicious microcalcifications. The method of preoperative ultrasound-guided wire marking of a zone of microcalcification was performed in all patients.After wire marking, the control native mammography in ML and CC projections was performed, in order to locate the microcalcifications relative to the wire. In all patients, the extirpation of the suspicious microcalcifications was verified by the specimen radiography.Results: In the definitive histopathological finding in situ component of ductal carcinoma of the breast was verified in nine (11,25%) examinees. High grade in situ component was verified in eight (10%) examinees and low grade in situ component in one examinee (1,25%). In 11 (13,75%) examinees, the invasive breast cancer with an extensive in situ component up to 50% was verified. In 46 (57,5%) of the examinees, benign, non-proliferative changes were verified, while proliferative changes characterized as premalignant condition (sclerosing adenosis, radial scar and atypical ductal hyperplasia) were verified in 14 (17,5%) examinees. Microcalcifications verified by specimen radiography are completely removed.Conclusion: Presence of mammographically detected suspicious microcalcifications has a significant predictive value in the early detection of breast cancer. The method of an open surgical biopsy, as an alternative to stereotactic biopsy, is valid in diagnostic of the mammographically suspicious microcalcifications.

Bone and Soft-Tissue Biopsies: What You Need to Know

Percutaneous, image-guided musculoskeletal biopsy, due to its minimal invasive nature, when compared with open surgical biopsy, is a safe and effective technique which is widely used in many institutions as the primary method to acquire tissue and bone samples. Indications include histopathologic and molecular assessment of a musculoskeletal lesion, exclusion of malignancy in a bone/vertebral fracture, examination of bone marrow, and infection investigation. Preprocedural workup should include both imaging (for lesion assessment and staging) and laboratory (including coagulation tests and platelet count) studies. In selected cases, antibiotic prophylaxis should be administered before the biopsy. Core needle biopsy of musculoskeletal lesions has a diagnostic accuracy that ranges from 66 to 98% with higher diagnostic yield for lytic, large-size, malignant lesions and when multiple and long specimens are obtained. Reported complication rates range between 0 and 10% and usually do not exceed 5%, with a suggested threshold of 2%. The purpose of this review article is to illustrate the technical aspects, the indications, and the methodology of percutaneous image-guided bone biopsy that will assist the interventional radiologist to perform these minimal invasive techniques.

Sacral Tuberculosis in the Elderly

Vertebral Tuberculosis represents about 50% of all osseous compromised in tuberculosis. However, sacral tuberculosis is rare even in developing countries. Objective: Describe the importance of the diagnosis of vertebral tuberculosis in the sacral region. Methods: Case report of a 67 year-old woman who presented with low back pain for one year. Results: Initial radiological evaluation was compatible with a lytic lesion at the first sacral (S1) vertebrae on the computed tomography scan. Open surgical biopsy was performed, but it was inconclusive. A second procedure was performed and Mycobacterium tuberculosis bacilli werevisualized on microbiological purulent fluid analysis. A complete improvement of pain was obtained after introduction of antituberculousdrugs. Conclusion: Although rare, sacral tuberculosis should be considered as a differential diagnosis of low back pain in endemic regions.

Candida glabrata spondylodiscitis: A case report

Introduction: Spondylodiscitis is an infection in the intervertebral disc space and adjacent end plates. It can be attributed to bacteria, mycobacteria or fungi. As the number of immunosuppressed patients continues to grow, the incidence of developing fungal infections has become more frequent. Methodology: We report the case of a 53-year-old immunocompetent female patient with a fungal spondylodiscitis infection caused by Candida glabrata diagnosed by open surgical biopsy, one-month posturosepsis. Results: Our patient with Candida glabrata was disease free in 6 months after being treated through surgical fusion at the level of C4-C5 and the use of intravenous micafungin followed by oral voriconazole for a total of 6 months. Discussion: Fungal spondylodiscitis, especially due to Candida glabrata, remains a rare condition, usually suspected in immunocompromised and elderly patients. Without appropriate diagnosis and tailored surgical and medical treatment, the infection can be progressive and yield to deleterious complications such as vertebral destruction. Surgical debridement of the disc alongside fusion and antifungal therapy for a minimum of 3 months are highly recommended.