Diagnostic utility of freehand core-needle biopsy in head and neck masses

To review our experience with freehand core-needle biopsy in the assessment of unexplained head and neck masses. A total of 770 patients with head and neck masses (referred over a 22-month period) were evaluated. A retrospective chart review was performed on 53 of those patients who underwent core-needle biopsy for an unexplained mass. Correct sampling of the target tissue was achieved in all 53 patients (100 per cent) using a freehand core-needle biopsy technique. The diagnostic accuracy for providing adequate tissue samples for histopathological diagnosis was 96 per cent; the test sensitivity was 92 per cent. Four patients (7 per cent) required open surgical biopsy prior to commencing definitive treatment. Out-patient freehand core-needle biopsy can be carried out safely on select patients with head and neck masses, and provides high quality histopathology specimens with high diagnostic utility.