• I Knapp, W Mann, and W Wachter.
• Universitäts-Hals-Nasen-Ohren-Klinik Freiburg.
• Laryngorhinootologie. 1989 Dec 1; 68 (12): 683-9.

AbstractFrom October 1985 to July 1988 we performed a study to examine 106 patients with head and neck tumours, by using ultrasound as a guiding system for fine-needle aspiration biopsy. It could be shown that this method has a high diagnostic significance at the neck with a low rate of risks. In a first step puncture was effected to obtain material for cytology, if necessary also for a bacteriological examination. Normally, in a second step a fine-needle cutting biopsy was done to obtain histological material. The combined use of aspiration and cutting needle biopsy achieved correct tumour status in 91.5%, whereas in 73.6% the correct type of lesion was diagnosed. A false status assessment and errors in identifying the lesions occurred in 2 of 106 cases; there of was one false negative status assessment. In cases of benign neck cysts, neck abscesses and non-specific lymphadenopathy, a cutting neck biopsy is not required, provided the clinical diagnosis is in accordance with the result of aspiration cytology and the further clinical progress. The advantage of the ultrasound-guided puncture compared with palpation-guided puncture is the certainty of locating the region of interest even in deep lesions without an appreciable risk of complications. In our opinion, ultrasound-guided fine needle aspiration biopsy is indicated in all cases of unclear head and neck tumours which could be treated conservatively if the result of the puncture is non-malignant.

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