Transvaginal Ultrasound-Guided Core Needle Biopsy of Pelvic Masses

[Transvaginal Ultrasound-Guided Biopsy]

Percutaneous ultrasound-guided biopsy is useful for the pathologic confirmation of variable body lesions to establish diagnostic and therapeutic approaches. However, deep pelvic lesions are a challenge for pathologic diagnoses because of the presence of the bowel, bladder, major vessels, and pelvic bones which make a percutaneous approach difficult and dangerous. In female, the vagina is elastic and near the pelvic internal organs. Therefore, transvaginal ultrasound may serve as an effective and safe guide for the pathologic diagnosis of pelvis lesions. This review aimed to introduce the indications for, and the method of transvaginal ultrasound-guided biopsy, and to describe the reported diagnostic accuracy and safety.

Tru-Cut Biopsy in Gynecological Cancer: Adequacy, Accuracy, Safety and Clinical Applicability

Purpose

Tru-cut biopsy is a minimally invasive technique used to obtain tissue samples for the diagnosis of tumors, especially in patients where primary surgery is not indicated. The aim of this study was to assess the adequacy, accuracy and safety of the tru-cut biopsy for diagnosis in gynecological cancer.

Methods

A retrospective population-based review of 328 biopsies was conducted. The indications for tru-cut biopsies were diagnosis of primary tumors, metastases of gynecological and non-gynecological tumors, and suspected recurrences. A tissue sample was considered adequate when the quality/quality was sufficient to identify the subtype/origin of the tumor. Potential factors affecting adequacy were analyzed using logistic regressions analyses. Accuracy was defined as agreement between the diagnosis of the tru-cut biopsy and the postoperative histology. The therapy plan was registered, and the clinical applicability of the tru-cut biopsy was investigated. Complications within 30 days after the biopsy procedure were registered.

Results

In total, 300 biopsies were identified as tru-cut biopsies. The overall adequacy was 86.3%, varying between 80.8% and 93.5%, respectively, when performed by a gynecological oncologist or a gynecologist with a subspecialty in ultrasound diagnosis. Sampling of a pelvic mass had a lower adequacy (81.6%) compared with sampling of the omentum (93.9%) or carcinomatosis (91.5%). The accuracy was 97.5%, and the complication rate was 1.3%.

Conclusion

The tru-cut biopsy is a safe and reliable diagnostic method with a high accuracy and a good adequacy, depending on the site of the tissue sample, indications for the biopsy and the experience of the operator.

Transvaginal ultrasound-guided biopsy in patients with suspicious primary advanced tubo-ovarian carcinoma

OBJECTIVE

To assess the accuracy of pathological diagnosis by transvaginal ultrasound-guided biopsy versus surgery in patients with suspicious primary advanced tubo-ovarian carcinoma. The Feasibility, adequacy, and safety of the procedure were also evaluated.

METHODS

Consecutive women with pre-operative suspicious primary advanced tubo-ovarian carcinoma presenting between July 2019 and September 2021 were enrolled. Accuracy was calculated including only cases who underwent surgery. Feasibility was defined as the number of cases in which ultrasound-guided biopsy was possible according to tumor characteristics (morphology and site). Adequacy was defined as the number of conclusive diagnoses out of the samples collected. Safety was defined by the number of major complications which were defined as hospitalization, surgery, and/or blood transfusion.

RESULTS

A total of 278 patients were eligible for the study; 158 were enrolled, while 120 were excluded for logistic reasons or patient refusal. Ultrasound-guided biopsy was not feasible in 30 (19%) patients. The samples obtained in the remaining 128 patients were all adequate (100%), and no major complications were noted. A total of 26 (20%) patients started neoadjuvant chemotherapy on the basis of the diagnosis obtained by ultrasound, whereas 102 (80%) patients underwent surgery. Accuracy of ultrasound-guided biopsy versus surgery was 94% (96/102), with six false negative cases at ultrasound (6%). Site (prevesical peritoneum) and size (<8 mm) of the nodules resulted as major predictive factors for ultrasound-guided biopsy failure (false negative). Ultrasound-guided biopsy correctly identified 86 primary invasive tubo-ovarian carcinomas and 10 metastatic tumors.

CONCLUSION

Ultrasound-guided biopsy is a feasible, safe, and accurate method to provide histological diagnosis in suspicious advanced tubo-ovarian cancer patients.

Contribution of Outpatient Ultrasound Transvaginal Biopsy and Puncture in the Diagnosis and Treatment of Pelvic Lesions: A Bicenter Study

BACKGROUND

The use of transvaginal ultrasound guided biopsy and puncture of pelvic lesions is a minimally invasive technique that allows for accurate diagnosis. It has many advantages compared to other more invasive (lower complication rate) or non-invasive techniques (accurate diagnosis). Furthermore, it offers greater availability, it does not radiate, enables the study of pelvic masses accessible vaginally with ultrasound control in real time, and it is possible to use the colour Doppler avoiding puncturing large vessels among others. The main aim of the work is to describe a standardized ambulatory technique and to determine its usefulness.

METHODS

This is a retrospective study of ultrasound transvaginal punctures (core needle biopsies and cytologies) and drainages of pelvic lesions performed on an outpatient basis during the last two years. The punctures were made with local anesthesia, under transvaginal ultrasound guidance with an automatic or semi-automatic 18G biopsy needle with a length of 20-25 cm and a penetration depth of 12 or 22 mm. The material obtained was sent for anatomopathological, cytological and/or microbiological study if necessary.

RESULTS

A total of 42 women were recruited in two centers. Fifty procedures (nine punctures, seven drains, and 34 biopsies) were performed. In five cases the punction and drain provided clinical relief in benign pelvic masses. Regarding material of the biopsies performed, 15 were vaginal in women previously histerectomized, finding 10 carcinomas, eight were ovarian tumours in advanced stages or peritoneal carcinomatosis obtaining the appropriate histology in each case, seven were suspicious cervical biopsies finding carcinomas in five of them, three were myometrial biopsies including one breast carcinoma metastasis in the miometrium and a benign placental nodule, and a periurethral biopsy was performed on a woman with a history of endometrial cancer confirming recurrence. The pathological diagnosis was satisfactory in all cases, confirming the nature of the lesion (25 malignant-ten vaginal recurrences of previous gynaecological cancers, eight cases of primary ovarian/peritoneal carcinoma, four new diagnosis of cervical malignant masses, one cervical metastasis of lymphoma, one periurethral recurrence of endometrial carcinoma and one recurrence of breast cancer in the myometrium-and 23 benign). The tolerance was excellent and no complications were detected.

CONCLUSION

The ambulatory ultrasound transvaginal puncture and drainage technique is useful for obtaining a sample for pathological and microbiological diagnosis with excellent tolerance that can be used to rule out the recurrence of malignant lesions or progression of the disease, diagnose masses not accessible to gynecological exploration (vaginal vault, myometrium or cervix) and for early histologic diagnosis in cases of advanced peritoneal carcinomatosis or ovarian carcinoma as well as drainage and cytological study of cystic pelvic masses.

Ultrasound-Guided Tru-Cut Biopsy in Gynecological and Non-Gynecological Pelvic Masses: A Single-Center Experience

Aim: The aim of this study was to evaluate the feasibility of adequacy, accuracy, and safety of ultrasound-guided tru-cut biopsy in managing malignant and benign abdominopelvic masses in a selected population and critically discuss some issues in different situations, which deserve some reflections on those practices. Materials and Methods: This is a retrospective study involving 42 patients who underwent transvaginal or transabdominal tru-cut biopsy between August 2017 and November 2021. The inclusion criteria were poor health status or primary inoperable advanced tumor, suspicion of recurrence or metastasis to the ovaries or peritoneum in gynecological and non-gynecological pelvic malignancies. Tissue samples were considered adequate if it was possible to determine the origin of the tumor, and immunohistochemistry could be performed. Diagnostic accuracy was assessed considering the agreement between tru-cut biopsy histology and final postoperative histology. Results: It total, 44 biopsies were obtained from 42 patients (2 patients had repeat biopsies). The pathologist considered all pathological samples adequate (adequacy 100%). The final histology was consistent with tru-cut biopsy diagnosis in all but 2 cases (diagnostic accuracy 88.2%). If we consider only the cases that have carried out at least two diagnostic samples, accuracy rose to 94.1%. Pathological examinations from tru-cut samples showed 2 benign lesions (4.8%) and 40 malignant tumors (95.2%), divided into 19 advanced primary inoperable ovarian cancers, 7 primary advanced cervical cancers, 4 recurrent endometrial cancers, 3 recurrent cervical cancers, 3 recurrent ovarian cancers, 1 case of primitive peritoneal malignancy (leiomyosarcoma), and 3 non-gynecological cancers with a strong suspicion of metastases at ultrasound (2 cases of ovarian, colorectal cancer metastasis, and 1 case of pelvic site type B lymphoma metastasis). However, one case of minor complication related to the procedure was reported but not significant. Conclusions: The diagnostic adequacy, accuracy of the tru-cut biopsy, and safety were high. Pathological samples are representative of the disease and suitable for histological and immunohistochemical analysis.

Transvaginal Ultrasound-Guided Fine-Needle Aspiration Biopsy of Pelvic Lesions

OBJECTIVES

To assess adequacy of transvaginal ultrasound-guided fine-needle aspiration biopsy (TVUS-FNAB) for pathologic diagnosis of pelvic masses performed using onsite cytopathology consultation.

METHODS

In this Institutional Review Board approved, Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) compliant study, radiology records were retrospectively queried to identify patients who underwent TVUS-FNAB of a pelvic mass over a 11-year duration. TVUS-FNAB adequacy was determined by correlating cytopathology results with transvaginal ultrasound-guided core-needle biopsy (TVUS-CNB) or surgical pathology results when available, and with clinical diagnostic confidence when additional pathology confirmation was not available. Secondary analysis included patient age, history of hysterectomy, or pelvic malignancy. Target-specific features analyzed included mass size, depth, location, and final pathologic diagnosis.

RESULTS

Sixty patients underwent TVUS-FNAB of pelvic masses, 43 of which underwent FNAB only and 17 underwent both TVUS-FNAB and TVUS-CNB during the same procedure. TVUS-FNAB alone was adequate for diagnosis in 51 (85%) cases and addition of core-needle biopsy (CNB) achieved a diagnosis in additional 4 patients, increasing overall diagnostic accuracy to 92% (55/60). FNAB inadequacy had statistically significant association with increasing mass depth, occurrence of a minor intraprocedural complication, and decision to perform a CNB (P <.05). Number of FNAB passes, mass size, history of hysterectomy, and final diagnosis were not statistically significant predictors of FNAB adequacy.

CONCLUSION

TVUS-FNAB has a high specimen adequacy rate when performed with an onsite cytopathologist and can be considered first-line approach for image-guided sampling of pelvic lesions with option to add CNB if preliminary cytopathologic review does not confirm sample adequacy.

[A CASE OF IgG4-RELATED DISEASE OF THE URETER DIAGNOSED BY TRANSVAGINAL ULTRASOUND-GUIDED BIOPSY]

IgG4-related disease (IgG4-RD) is a chronic inflammatory disorder that systemically causes tissue fibrosis due to infiltration of IgG4-positive plasma cells. Here, we reported a rare case of ureteral IgG4-RD that formed a nodular lesion and diagnosed by trans-vaginal ultrasound-guided needle biopsy.A 72-year-old woman presented with loss of appetite. The patient underwent Computed Tomography (CT), and she was pointed out the thickening of the left side bladder wall. So we performed a transurethral bladder biopsy under lumber anesthesia, but histopathological findings were almost normal. After that, she developed pyelonephritis repeatedly. We performed CT again. A CT revealed a nodular lesion at the end of her left ureter and hydronephrosis. The tumor was gradually getting larger. So we performed placement the ureteral stent for urinary tract obstruction. Left ureteral urine cytology was classIIIa. We performed transvaginal ultrasound needle biopsy for the nodular lesion of the left ureter. Histopathological findings showed infiltration of lymphocytes and fibrosis and infiltration of IgG4 positive plasma cells: the ratio of IgG4/IgG positive cells>0.6, 30>IgG4 positive plasma cells/high power field. The serum IgG and IgG4 levels were also elevated 1,943 and 210 mg/dl. We finally diagnosed IgG4-RD of the ureter and started using steroid for her treatment. One month later, the tumor had reduced after steroid treatment. The ureteral stent was removed. Since then, recurrent ureteral obstruction of the left ureter has not occurred.IgG4-RD of the ureter with nodular type is rare, and the imaging findings are similar to malignant tumors. Accurate diagnosis is very important to rule out malignancy. In our case, transvaginal needle biopsy was helpful to reach final diagnosis.

The Role of Ultrasound Guided Sampling Procedures in the Diagnosis of Pelvic Masses: A Narrative Review of the Literature

Ultrasound-guided sampling methods are usually minimally invasive techniques applied to obtain cytological specimens or tissue samples, mainly used for the diagnosis of different types of tumors. The main benefits of ultrasound guidance is its availability. It offers high flexibility in the choice of sampling approach (transabdominal, transvaginal, and transrectal) and short duration of procedure. Ultrasound guided sampling of pelvic masses represents the diagnostic method of choice in selected patients. We carried out a narrative review of literatures regarding the ultrasound-guided methods of cytological and histological evaluation of pelvic masses as well as the positive and negative predictors for the achievement of an adequate sample.

Long-term experience with percutaneous biopsies of pelvic lesions using CT guidance

To evaluate the accuracy, efficiency, complication rate, technical features, and relations among followed parameters of CT-guided percutaneous biopsies of the pelvic lesions. 140 biopsies in 136 patients for tumors, sizes 17-160 mm in largest diameter, were carried out in patients with probable tumorous pelvic process within ten years period. The patients were women in 77 cases and men in 59 cases, aged 21 to 87 years. The lesions´ size varied from 17 mm to 160 mm in largest diameter. In 135 biopsies (96.4%) results were true positive or true negative; only 5 procedures (3.6%) were histologically false negative and had to be verified surgically. Metastatic affection was the most common diagnosis (26.4%). Lymphomas were diagnosed in 25%; serous adenocarcinoma of ovary or uterine tube was verified in 15.7% of cases. Totally 7 complications (5%) were confirmed, all were minor hemorrhages. A statistically significant relation between the complication rate and hypervascular character (p = 0.00004), and between needle gauge and histological accuracy (p = 0.00429) was revealed. Core needle biopsy using percutaneous approach and CT guidance had a high overall accuracy in determining the final histological diagnosis including subtyping. Concurrently, the complication incidence was low.

Transvaginal Ultrasound-Guided Core Biopsy-Experiences in a Comprehensive Cancer Centre

Simple Summary

Adequate histological diagnosis defines the treatment in gynaecologic oncology. Although transvaginal ultrasound (TVUS) has widespread use in the diagnosis of pelvic tumours, TVUS-guided core biopsy is not a common procedure. In this study we summarize our experience in TVUS-guided biopsies performed in a comprehensive cancer centre, discussing the results of 303 patients who underwent this procedure. In addition, we compare the histological results of the biopsies with subsequent surgical histological results in 94 cases. Our study demonstrates that TVUS-guided core biopsy is a safe and effective histological sampling procedure providing adequate tissue for pathological evaluation in 99% of cases. Compared to surgically obtained histology, this procedure can reliably guide therapy, as its performance is satisfactory. In our opinion, TVUS-guided core biopsy is an effective diagnostic method providing possible benefits to patients referred for suspicion of gynaecological malignancy.

Abstract

In this paper, we report our experience of transvaginal ultrasound (TVUS)-guided core biopsies involving 303 patients referred to the gynaecological ultrasound unit of our national comprehensive cancer centre. Adequate histologic specimens were obtained in 299 patients (98.7%). The most common sites of biopsy sampling were the adnexa (29.7%), the vaginal stump or wall (13.5%), the uterus (11.6%) and the peritoneum (10.2%). Malignancy was confirmed in two-thirds of patients (201/303) and a primary malignancy was diagnosed in 111 of the 201 histologically verified malignant cases (55.2%). Interestingly, 23.9% (48/201) of malignant tumours were proven to have a non-gynaecological origin. Among them, gastrointestinal tumours occurred the most frequently (31/48 patients). Three abscesses were discovered following the biopsy procedure, resulting in a complication rate of 1%. In 94 (31%) patients, subsequent surgery allowed the comparison of the ultrasound-guided and surgically obtained histologic results. We found inaccuracy in 12 cases (12.8%), which is discussed in this paper in detail. Sensitivity, specificity, PPV and NPV to diagnose malignancy was 94.8%, 94.1%, 98.7% and 80.0%, respectively. This is the largest study reported to date about the efficacy and safety of TVUS-guided core biopsy in evaluating pelvic lesions giving rise to a suspicion of gynaecological cancer.

Safety and efficiency of performing transvaginal ultrasound-guided tru-cut biopsy for pelvic masses

OBJECTIVE

To assess the safety, adequacy and accuracy of transvaginal ultrasound-guided tru-cut biopsy of pelvic masses.

METHODS

We performed a retrospective analysis of consecutive women who underwent transvaginal ultrasound-guided tru-cut biopsies between June 2014 and October 2018 at the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology of the University Hospitals Leuven. Main indications for tru-cut biopsy were tissue collection for diagnosis of pelvic tumors in cases of suspected disseminated disease or recurrence, or tissue banking for research purposes. Data about adverse events occurring within 2 weeks of the procedure (including bleeding, blood transfusion, hospital admission, urgent surgery, pelvic infection or death) were extracted from electronic medical records. Tissue samples were recorded as adequate if tumor identification and immunohistochemistry were possible. Accuracy was defined in patients who underwent surgery as the agreement between histology after tru-cut biopsy and final histology.

RESULTS

176 tru-cut biopsies were performed in 155 patients. Procedure related events were limited to moderate blood loss (<50 ml) without the need for treatment in 4.5%. There were no major complications. Biopsies were deemed adequate for histological evaluation in 84.3% of biopsies performed for diagnostic purposes and in 71.4% of research cases in whom a single tissue cylinder was available for diagnosis. When at least two cylinders were available, diagnostic adequacy increased to >95%. Comparing final histology, the diagnostic accuracy of the tru-cut biopsies was 97.2%.

CONCLUSION

Transvaginal tru-cut biopsy for diagnosis of pelvic masses is a safe procedure. To allow an adequate and accurate diagnosis, we advise taking at least 2 core biopsies.

Role of transvaginal ultrasound-guided biopsy in gynecology

BACKGROUND

Ultrasound-guided biopsy is an easy technique for obtaining tissue samples. It is commonly used for different types of tumors, such as breast and prostate cancers, in order to plan early and adequate treatment.

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the indications, adequacy, and safety of transvaginal ultrasound-guided biopsy in women with pelvic lesions suspected of gynecologic malignancy.

METHODS

A retrospective study including all patients who had undergone transvaginal ultrasound-guided biopsy between April 2015 and May 2018 was carried out at the division of gynecologic oncology. Inclusion criteria were the presence at imaging of abdominal or pelvic tumors in patients considered not ideal candidates for primary gynecological surgery, or the origin and/or nature of the tumor was unclear and further management required histological verification. Patients with planned surgery were excluded from the study. Transvaginal biopsies were performed with a 18 G/25 cm core-cut biopsy needle and histology was obtained. Tru-cut biopsies were performed using an automatic bioptic gun with a 18 G/25 cm core-cut biopsy needle. Results are presented as absolute frequency (percentage) for nominal variables and as median (range) for continuous variables.

RESULTS

A total of 62 women were analyzed. An adequate sample for histological analysis was obtained in all cases. Histopathological examinations showed 24 (38.7%) benign lesions (fibrosis, inflammation, uterine or ovarian myoma) and 38 (61.3%) malignant tumors, distributed as follows: 34 (89.5%) malignant gynecological lesions and 4 (10.5%) non-gynecological malignant tumors. Among the malignant lesions, there were 12/38 (31.6%) primary tumors, 24/38 (63.2%) recurrent tumors, and 2/38 (5.3%) metastases from non-genital cancer. Ten patients eventually underwent surgery. Final histology was not in agreement with the results from transvaginal ultrasound-guided biopsy in 2 of 10 patients (20%); in particular, benign disease at transvaginal ultrasound-guided biopsy was malignant at final histology (two cases of recurrence of cervical cancer). Three patients (4.8%) had pain during the procedure, which was controlled by oral analgesic therapy and lasted for no longer than 10 min. No major complications were registered.

CONCLUSIONS

Transvaginal ultrasound-guided biopsy is a minimally invasive method to obtain adequate material for histological diagnosis and could avoid unnecessary surgical procedures, costly CT-guided procedures, or prolonged waiting times.

Clinical analysis of high risk factors for pelvic malignant tumors after hysterectomy for benign diseases

To analyze the clinicopathological characteristics of pelvic masses after hysterectomy for benign diseases, and to analyze the related factors of benign and malignant pelvic masses.This study retrospectively analyzed the patients undergone reoperation for pelvic mass subsequently to hysterectomy for benign disease from January 2012 to December 2016 in Peking Union Medical College Hospital.A total of 247 patients were enrolled in this study, of which 34.01% were diagnosed with malignant tumors, and 65.99% benign tumors. Comparing the clinicopathological data of patients with benign and malignant pelvic masses, significant differences were found between the 2 groups with regard to their ages of having hysterectomy and pelvic mass resection, and the time intervals between the onset of pelvic mass and hysterectomy. In addition, patients with malignant masses tended to complain of abdominal distension and abdominal pain, while most of those with benign masses were diagnosed during physical examination. Patients with malignant pelvic masses had medical imagines of mixed masses, extraovarian derivation, as well as elevated carbohydrate antigen-125 (CA 125). Multivariate analysis showed that ages of having hysterectomy, physical examination results, abnormal defecation, cystic and solid masses, and elevated CA 125 level were independent risk factors for benign and malignant pelvic masses.For patients having pelvic masses following hysterectomy for benign diseases, if they had hysterectomy later in their lives, and their masses were not found during physical examination, and had abnormal defecation, mixed cystic solid mass as well as elevated serum CA 125, it is suggested that special attention should be paid to the possibility of malignant tumors.

Transvaginal/transrectal ultrasound-guided aspiration biopsy for diagnosis of pelvic/pelvic floor tumors in females: A retrospective analysis

Ultrasound guidance for histological diagnosis is in real-time, convenient, and economical. The aim of this study was to determine whether transvaginal ultrasound (TVUS)- and transrectal ultrasound (TRUS)-guided aspiration biopsy allows detection of a malignant pathology of pelvic/pelvic masses. Data of 40 patients with pelvic and pelvic mass lesions by computed tomography or magnetic resonance imaging underwent TVUS- or TRUS-guided biopsy. Tissue samples obtained were assessed on suitability for histopathologic evaluation. The post-biopsy complication was monitored. All the specimens in the pelvic floor, vaginal stump, vaginal fornix, cervix, and posterior wall of the anal canal were adequate for histologic diagnosis. There were no post-biopsy complications. Transvaginal/transrectal ultrasound-guided aspiration biopsy is safe and simple. It can be used for the diagnosis and differential diagnosis of pelvic and pelvic floor lesions in women. Prospective studies are needed to test diagnostic performance across clinical scenarios.

Transrectal or transvaginal ultrasoundguided biopsy for pelvic masses: external validation and usefulness in oncologic patients

Purpose

The purpose of this study was to externally validate the diagnostic usefulness of transrectal ultrasound (TRUS) or transvaginal ultrasound (TVUS)-guided biopsy for pelvic masses, and to analyze the diagnostic performance of these methods in oncologic patients.

Methods

A consecutive series of 30 patients who underwent TRUS- or TVUS-guided biopsy for pelvic masses was included. Tissue samples were obtained using an 18-gauge core biopsy needle under local anesthesia for lesions detected on computed tomography or magnetic resonance imaging. We analyzed the rates of diagnostic biopsies upon pathologic examination and biopsy-related major complications requiring treatment. In diagnostic biopsy cases, the performance was also investigated for all patients and patients with underlying malignancy.

Results

The diagnostic biopsy rate was 93.3% (28 of 30) for all patients and 95.0% (19 of 20) for oncologic patients. No patients had major complications. In diagnostic biopsies, the sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive value, and accuracy for identifying malignancy were 100% (17 of 17), 72.7% (8 of 11), 85.0% (17 of 20), 100% (8 of 8), and 89.3% (25 of 28) for all patients and 100% (14 of 14), 60.0% (3 of 5), 87.5% (14 of 16), 100% (3 of 3), and 89.5% (17 of 19) for oncologic patients, respectively.

Conclusion

This study externally validated the feasibility and safety of TRUS- or TVUS-guided biopsy. In addition, these techniques appear to enable accurate pathologic diagnoses of pelvic masses in oncologic patients to be made safely and relatively noninvasively.