Sonographically guided core-needle biopsy of focal splenic lesions: report of four cases

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

OBJECTIVE

To review our experience with freehand core-needle biopsy in the assessment of unexplained head and neck masses.

METHODS

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.

RESULTS

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.

CONCLUSION

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.

Splenic sarcoidosis

Sarcoidosis is a multisystem granulomatous disease of unknown cause that can produce either homogeneous splenomegaly or multiple splenic nodules. Systemic symptoms can accompany splenic involvement. Although the chest radiograph may be suggestive of sarcoidosis, a normal chest radiograph is seen in one quarter to one third of patients with splenic sarcoidosis. The imaging appearance of splenic sarcoidosis can mimic more ominous neoplastic or infectious disease. Biopsy of the spleen or other involved organ may be indicated for definitive diagnosis.

Ultrasonography of splenic abnormalities

AIM: This report gives a comprehensive overview of ultrasonography of splenic abnormalities. Certain ultrasonic features are also discussed with pathologic correlation.

METHODS: We review the typical ultrasonic characteristics of a wide range of splenic lesions, illustrating them with images obtained in our institution from 2000 to 2003. One hundred and three patients (47 men, 56 women), with a mean age of 54 years (range 9-92 years), were found to have an abnormal ultrasonic pattern of spleen.

RESULTS: We describe the ultrasonic features of various splenic lesions such as accessory spleen, splenomegaly, cysts, cavernous hemangiomas, lymphomas, abscesses, metastatic tumors, splenic infarctions, hematomas, and rupture, based on traditional gray-scale and color Doppler sonography.

CONCLUSION: Ultrasound is a widely available, noninvasive, and useful means of diagnosing splenic abnormalities. A combination of ultrasonic characteristics and clinical data may provide an accurate diagnosis. If the US appearance alone is not enough, US may also be used to guide biopsy of suspicious lesions.

Laparoscopic Splenectomy for Isolated Sarcoidosis of the Spleen

Sarcoidosis is a granulomatous disease of unknown etiology. Over 90% of patients with sarcoidosis present with pulmonary findings at the time of diagnosis. Extrapulmonary involvement is common, including the liver, eyes, central nervous system, lymph nodes, and joints. However, isolated granulomatous disease confined to the spleen is rare. This report documents a rare case of isolated granulomatous disease of the spleen diagnosed and treated laparoscopically. A 47-year-old female presented to her internist with nausea and mild epigastric abdominal pain. Laboratory evaluation revealed slightly elevated bilirubin and liver function tests as well as neutropenia. An abdominal ultrasound revealed normal biliary and pancreatic anatomy and multiple splenic lesions. Computed tomography of the abdomen confirmed the multiple hypodense lesions within the spleen. The differential diagnosis at this time included neoplasm, infection, and autoimmune etiologies. Subsequently, the patient underwent a diagnostic laparoscopy with splenectomy. No other intra-abdominal pathology was found. Pathology revealed multiple noncaseating, splenic granulomas. Isolated extrapulmonary manifestations of sarcoidosis occur in only 10% of these patients. Moreover, isolated splenic sarcoidosis is rare. Currently, the literature documents only two prior cases of sarcoidosis presenting with isolated splenic lesions. Primary management consists of medical therapy with prednisone, methotrexate, and/or antimalarial drugs. Indications for surgery include symptomatic splenomegaly, severe hypersplenism, prophylaxis for splenic rupture, and neoplastic exclusion. Our patient required a laparoscopic splenectomy for diagnostic purposes and neoplastic exclusion. Once diagnosed, patients require continual follow-up for systemic manifestations and associated complications of sarcoidosis.

Endoscopic ultrasound-guided biopsy for the diagnosis of focal lesions of the spleen

OBJECTIVES

Needle biopsy of splenic lesions using computed tomography (CT) or ultrasound (US) is difficult if the size of the lesion is small. It may be dangerous if the lesion is adjacent to the splenic hilum or located peripherally. We used endoscopic ultrasound-guided fine needle aspiration (EUS-FNA) to elucidate the tissue diagnosis of splenic abnormalities.

METHODS

EUS-FNA was performed in 12 patients when US- or CT-guided biopsy was inconclusive (n = 5), was not attempted because of small tumor size (0.9-1.4 cm; N = 4), or was considered dangerous (n = 3). A linear echo-endoscope and 22-gauge needles were used for cytology and bacteriology.

RESULTS

The age of the patients was 19-68 yr (median 32 yr). Seven patients were male and five female. The size of the lesions was 0.8-4.2 cm (median 1.4 cm). Cytology was inadequate in one patient. Bacteriology was positive for Staphylococcus aureus and Serratia in one patient each, and cultures were positive for Mycobacterium tuberculosis in two patients. A positive diagnosis was made in 10 of 12 patients (83%). Final diagnoses were tuberculosis in two patients, Hodgkin's disease in two, sarcoidosis in two, abscesses in two, metastatic colon cancer in one, and infarction in one. Suspected recurrence of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma was not confirmed in one case. One patient experienced pain after puncture, but no hematoma was demonstrated on subsequent US examination.

CONCLUSIONS

EUS-FNA cytodiagnosis in patients with unknown splenic lesions seems feasible, even in very small foci, when CT- or US-guided biopsy fails. Additional material for bacteriology may show benign treatable diseases such as abscesses or tuberculosis.