Sarcomas of the extremities and the pelvis: comparing local recurrence after incisional and after core-needle biopsy

Background The degree of contamination of healthy tissue with tumor cells during a biopsy in bone or soft tissue sarcomas is clearly dependant on the type of biopsy. Some studies have confirmed a clinically relevant contamination of the biopsy tract after incisional biopsies, as opposed to core-needle biopsies. The aim of our prospective study was to evaluate the risk of local recurrence depending on the biopsy type in extremity and pelvis sarcomas. Methods We included 162 patients with a minimum follow-up of 6 months after wide resection of extremity sarcomas. All diagnostic and therapeutic procedures were performed at a single, dedicated sarcoma center. The excision of the biopsy tract after an incisional biopsy was performed as a standard with all tumor resections. All patients received their follow-up after the conclusion of therapy at our center by means of regional MRI studies and, at a minimum, CT of the thorax to rule out pulmonary metastatic disease. The aim of the study was the evaluation of the influence of the biopsy type and of several other clinical factors on the rate of local recurrence and on the time of local recurrence-free survival. Results One hundred sixty-two patients with bone or soft tissue tumors of the extremities and the pelvis underwent either an incisional or a core-needle biopsy of their tumor, with 70 sarcomas (43.2%) being located in the bone. 84.6% of all biopsies were performed as core-needle biopsies. The median follow-up time was 55.6 months, and 22 patients (13.6%) developed a local recurrence after a median time of 22.4 months. There were no significant differences between incisional and core-needle biopsy regarding the risk of local recurrence in our subgroup analysis with differentiation by kind of tissue, grading of the sarcoma, and perioperative multimodal therapy. Conclusions In a large and homogenous cohort of extremity and pelvic sarcomas, we did not find significant differences between the groups of incisional and core-needle biopsy regarding the risk of local recurrence. The excision of the biopsy tract after incisional biopsy in the context of the definitive tumor resection seems to be the decisive factor for this result.

The diagnostic value of core needle biopsy in cervical cancer: A retrospective analysis

Cervical carcinoma is a major cause of morbidity and mortality among women worldwide. Histological subtype, lymphovascular space invasion and tumor grade could have a prognostic and predictive value for patients’ outcome and the knowledge of these histologic characteristics may influence clinical decision making. However, studies evaluating the diagnostic value of various biopsy techniques regarding these parameters of cervical cancer are scarce. We reviewed 318 cases of cervical carcinoma with available pathology reports from preoperative core needle biopsy (CNB) assessment and from final postoperative evaluation of the hysterectomy specimen. Setting the postoperative comprehensive pathological evaluation as reference, we analysed CNB assessment of histological tumor characteristics. In addition, we performed multivariable logistic regression to identify factors influencing the accuracy in identifying LVSI and tumor grade. CNB was highly accurate in discriminating histological subtype. Sensitivity and specificity were 98.8% and 89% for squamous cell carcinoma, 92.9% and 96.6% for adenocarcinoma, 33.3% and 100% in adenosquamous carcinoma respectively. Neuroendocrine carcinoma was always recognized correctly. The accuracy of the prediction of LVSI was 61.9% and was positively influenced by tumor size in preoperative magnetic resonance imaging and negatively influenced by strong peritumoral inflammation. High tumor grade (G3) was diagnosed accurately in 73.9% of cases and was influenced by histological tumor type. In conclusion, CNB is an accurate sampling technique for histological classification of cervical cancer and represents a reasonable alternative to other biopsy techniques.

Core Needle Biopsy Enhances the Activity of the CCL2/CCR2 Pathway in the Microenvironment of Invasive Breast Cancer

The use of core needle biopsy (CNB) as a means to verify malignancy preoperatively is a paradigm in current breast cancer care, and the risk of enhancing tumor development by this procedure has been considered insignificant. Experimental work in mice has shown preoperative biopsies to increase tumor supportive elements in the microenvironment, whereas, in humans, the impact of CNB on the host’s immunologic response has not been investigated. In this pilot study, we compared the expression of CCL2/CCR2 pathway components at the protein level in samples from CNBs to those from the corresponding resected tumors from 52 patients with primary breast cancer. We found an increased expression of CD163, CD14 and CCR2 in monocytes/macrophages and a slight decrease of CCL2 in the malignant epithelium in the tumors after the biopsy. The increased infiltration of immunosuppressive monocytes/macrophages and the decreased tumor cell CCL2 expression, presumably due to the CCR2 availability-dependent CCL2 internalization, suggest that CNB enhances the activity of the CCL2/CCR2 pathway, and this finding warrants confirmatory examination. The switch in the context-dependent role of CCL2 on the polarization of macrophages may lead to increased tumor supportive function both locally and in the peripheral immune machinery. The future directions in breast cancer should include early interventions to support the tumor surveillance of the host.

Đánh giá hiệu quả sinh thiết u phổi xuyên thành ngực bằng kim dưới hướng dẫn CT-scan

TÓM TẮT Mục tiêu: Xác định độ chính xác và tỉ lệ tai biến của phương pháp sinh thiết u phổi xuyên thành ngực bằng kim dưới hướng dẫn CTscan. Phương pháp và đối tượng: Hồi cứu, mô tả các bệnh nhân được sinh thiết u phổi xuyên thành ngực bằng kim dưới hướng dẫn CTscan tại bệnh viện Bình Dân từ 3/2019 đến hết 12/2019. Kết quả: Tổng số mẫu là 57 bệnh nhân, nam gần gấp đôi nữ, tuổi trung bình 60,7. Phần lớn bệnh nhân tình cờ phát hiện u phổi (78,9%). U phổi bên phải nhiều hơn bên trái. Kết quả sinh thiết: Ung thư 57,9%; viêm 35,1% và lao 7%. Các trường hợp kết quả sinh thiết là lao: phù hợp với bệnh cảnh lâm sàng, hình ảnh học và được chẩn đoán xác định bởi bác sĩ chuyên khoa lao - Bệnh viện Phạm Ngọc Thạch. Các trường hợp kết quả sinh thiết là viêm: kết quả phẫu thuật là lao 50%, ung thư 20%, viêm 20%. Các trường hợp kết quả sinh thiết là ung thư: so sánh với kết quả phẫu thuật chúng tôi nhận thấy độ nhạy trong phát hiện ung thư phổi của sinh thiết là 85,7%; độ đặc hiệu 100%; giá trị tiên đoán dương 100% và giá trị tiên đoán âm 80%. Tỉ lệ tai biến 21,1% gồm tràn khí màng phổi 12,3%, ho ra máu 7% và tụ máu nhu mô phổi 1,8%. Tỉ lệ tràn khí màng phổi cần dẫn lưu màng phổi cấp cứu là thấp (3,5%). Kết luận: Phương pháp sinh thiết u phổi xuyên thành ngực bằng kim dưới hướng dẫn CTscan khả thi, hiệu quả cao và tương đối an toàn, vì vậy có vai trò quan trọng trong chẩn đoán u phổi. ABSTRACT EVALUATE THE EFFECTIVENESS OF COMPUTED TOMOGRAPHY - GUIDED TRANSTHORACIC CORE NEEDLE BIOPSY OF PULMONARY TUMORS Objectives: The present study aims to determine the diagnostic accuracy of computed tomography (CT) - guided transthoracic core needle biopsy of pulmonary tumorsand the complications of the procedure. Methods: A retrospective descriptive studywas carried out in a series of patients with pulmonary tumors diagnosed by CT - guided transthoracic core needle biopsy at Binh Dan Hospital between 3/2019 and 12/2019. Results: The total sample was 57 patients with an average age was 60.7, male/female = 1.85. Most of the patients were detected lung tumors incidentally (78.9%), and right-side tumors were more than the left - side tumors. Biopsy results included cancer, inflammation, and tuberculosis, with incidence rates were 57.9%, 35.1%, and 7%, respectively. The cases, which were confirmed tuberculosis on biopsy results, were determined tuberculosis by a specialist who worked in Pham Ngoc Thach Hospital. The patients had inflammatory results and were operated on, which had surgical outcomes were tuberculosis (50%), cancer (20%), and inflammation (20%). The cases, which were confirmed cancer on biopsy results after comparing with surgical outcome, found that the biopsy of detecting lung cancer had 85.7% sensitivity, 100% specificity, 100% positive predictive value, and 80% negative predictive value. The rate of complications was 21.1%, including pneumothorax (12.3%), hemoptysis (7%), and pulmonary parenchymal hematoma (1.8%). The rate of pneumothorax requiring emergency pleural drainage was low (3.5%). Conclusions: CT - guided transthoracic core needle biopsy is feasible, highly effective, and relatively safe; therefore, it plays an important role in diagnosing lung tumors. Keywords: Lung tumor, tuberculosis (TB), lung cancer, core biopsy

Diagnostic Accuracy and Post-Procedural Complications Associated with Ultrasound-Guided Core Needle Biopsy in the Preoperative Evaluation of Parotid Tumors

Correct diagnosis of a parotid neoplasm based on histology preoperatively is of utmost importance in order to guide patient management. The aim of this study was to evaluate the diagnostic accuracy of an ultrasound-guided core needle biopsy of a parotid lesion and to describe associated post-procedural complications. A retrospective study was conducted between January 2015 and March 2021 of all patients who were referred to a tertiary care center for evaluation of a parotid lesion and who underwent core needle biopsy due to high-risk features or when malignancy was suspected on clinical examination or ultrasonography. Patient characteristics, histological findings, and post-procedural complications were recorded and evaluated. Among 890 patients referred for evaluation of a parotid lesion, in 138 patients a core needle biopsy was undertaken. On the basis of core needle biopsy findings, 11 lymphomas and 82 non-lymphoma malignancies were diagnosed in the parotid gland. The sensitivity of the core needle biopsy predicting the accurate tumor type was 97.56% (95% CI 91.47–99.70%) and the specificity 94.64% (95% CI 85.13–98.88%). The accuracy for the correct histopathological diagnosis was 93.48% (95% CI 87.98–96.97%). Post-procedural minor complications occurred in 19 patients (13.8%). In conclusion, a core needle biopsy can identify malignancy in the parotid gland with high sensitivity and specificity in a safe manner and therefore guide surgical treatment.