ULTRASOUND-GUIDED CORE NEEDLE BIOPSY FOR SALIVARY GLAND LESIONS

Background: a salivary gland swelling may result from various causes and create a diagnostic challenge. this study was conducted to evaluate the usefulness of ultrasound-guided core needle biopsy as a diagnostic modality. material & methods: it was a cross-sectional study conducted in nawabshah medical college, pakistan, from january 2004 to december 2007. one hundred & eight patients were included, ages 13-72 years (mean 52.2). ultrasound-guided core needle biopsy was performed. these patients also underwent excision biopsy. histological diagnosis of ultrasound-guided core needle biopsy was compared with that of excisional biopsy. results: out of 108 patients, 70(64.8%) lesion were in parotid and 38(35.2%) in sub-mandibular gland. histological findings of ultrasound-guided core needle biopsy showed non-neoplastic lesions in 29(26.8%) cases; 12 reactive lymph nodes, 9 chronic non-specific sialadenitis, 4 tuberculosis, 3 retention cysts and one salivary gland abscess. benign neoplastic lesions were found in 54(50%); 35 pleomorphic adenomas, 12 warthin tumors, 5 monomorphic adenomas, and 2 hemangiomas. malignant lesions were found in 25(23.1%); 8 mucoepidermoid carcinoma, 6 lymphoma, 4 adenoid cystic carcinoma, 4 malignant mixed tumor and 3 adenocarcinoma. excisional biopsy confirmed the diagnosis of ultrasound-guided core needle biopsy, except in one case of warthin tumor which was mucoepidermoid carcinoma on excisional biopsy. conclusion: ultrasound-guided core needle biopsy is a safe, simple and accurate procedure for the diagnosis of salivary gland lesions and can be performed as an outpatient procedure