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Accuracy of core-needle biopsy after contrast-enhanced ultrasound in soft-tissue tumours

  • Oncology
  • Published:
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Abstract

Objective

Percutaneous biopsies are gaining acceptance in the diagnosis of soft-tissue tumours. Sampling in the most representative area is not easy in sarcomas of huge dimension. We hypothesised that ultrasound (US) contrast medium could identify the representative area for focus core-needle biopsy (CNB)

Methods

This is a retrospective cohort series of 115 soft-tissue masses treated from January 2007 to November 2008. Accuracy of US-guided CNB after contrast-enhanced US (CEUS) was determined by comparing the histology of the biopsy with the definitive diagnosis in 105 surgically excised samples (42 benign, 63 malignant) and with the expected outcome in the remaining ten malignant cases not surgically treated. A myxoid component was present in 21 sarcomas (34.4%).

Results

Of samples, 94.8% were adequate for diagnosis with 97.1% sensitivity and 92.5% specificity. Sensitivity and specificity in specific histopathological subgroupings were 100%, and in grading definition they were 100% and 96.8%.

Discussion

US-guided CNB is safe and effective. US contrast medium depicts tumour vascular supply and identifies the representative area(s) for sampling. Sensitivity and specificity are also high in subgrouping and grading, including myxoid types. Discussion about biopsy is part of the essential multidisciplinary strategy for these tumours.

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Acknowledgements

We thank Prof. Franco Cavallo, Department of Medical Statistics, University of Turin, for his help with statistical evaluation. We also thank Dr. Michele Boffano, Resident in Orthopaedics and Traumatology, University of Turin, and Dr. Stefano Marone, Orthopaedic Surgeon, AO CTO/MA of Turin, for their help in assembling the cases.

Disclosure

None of the authors received any funding or grants or financial support for this study. The authors have no conflict of interest.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Imaging, AO CTO/Maria Adelaide, Via Zuretti, 29, 10126, Turin, Italy

    Armanda De Marchi, Simona Pozza, Lucia Verga & Carlo Faletti

  2. Department of Traumatology, Orthopaedics and Health Medicine, University of Turin, AO CTO/Maria Adelaide Via Zuretti, 29, 10126, Turin, Italy

    Elena Maria Brach del Prever

  3. Department of Pathology, AO OIRM-S.Anna, Piazza Polonia 94, 10126, Turin, Italy

    Alessandra Linari & Marco Forni

  4. Department of Orthopaedic Oncology and Reconstructive Surgery, AO CTO/Maria Adelaide, Via Zuretti, 29, 10126, Turin, Italy

    Ugo Albertini, Gian Carlo Gino & Raimondo Piana

  5. Department of Oncology, Gradenigo Hospital, Corso Regina Margherita 8/10, 10153, Turin, Italy

    Alessandro Comandone

  6. Department of Pediatric, ASLTO4, POR Ciriè-Lanzo, Via Battitore, 7, Ciriè, Turin, Italy

    Adalberto Maria Brach del Prever

Authors
  1. Armanda De Marchi
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  2. Elena Maria Brach del Prever
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  3. Alessandra Linari
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  4. Simona Pozza
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  8. Gian Carlo Gino
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  12. Carlo Faletti
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Piedmont Sarcoma Group

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Correspondence to Elena Maria Brach del Prever.

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De Marchi, A., Brach del Prever, E.M., Linari, A. et al. Accuracy of core-needle biopsy after contrast-enhanced ultrasound in soft-tissue tumours. Eur Radiol 20, 2740–2748 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00330-010-1847-y

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00330-010-1847-y

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