ROLE OF IMAGE-GUIDED BIOPSY IN DIAGNOSING SOFT TISSUE TUMORS

Abstract

Soft tissue tumors encompass a wide spectrum of benign and malignant lesions that require proper diagnosis for the right type of treatment. Radiographically-guided biopsy has recently become established as the less invasive, more accurate and safer means of diagnosing these tumors. This review aims at assessing the prowess of guide biopsy, on issues to do with ease in diagnosis, safety and clinical relevance in assessment of soft tissue tumors. A review of records of 120 patient who had ultrasound or CT biopsy for carcinoma was done. Concerning diagnostic accuracy, there was 94% accuracy with a complication rate of 2%. These findings show that with the use of image guidance there was improved accuracy of sampling of deep seated tissues. Drawbacks were nonrepresentative samples in highly necrotic tumors and selection biases concerning the patients. Nonetheless, image guided biopsy is shown to be a valuable diagnostic intervention for early, accurate diagnosis and tailoring of effective therapeutic plans.

Keywords: Biopsy under image guidance, soft tissue masses, ultrasound directed biopsy, computed tomography-guided biopsy, diagnostic yield?