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THE CASE AGAINST OPEN NECK BIOPSY
Author(s) -
Kleid Stephen,
Millar Hugh S.
Publication year - 1993
Publication title -
australian and new zealand journal of surgery
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.111
H-Index - 51
eISSN - 1445-2197
pISSN - 0004-8682
DOI - 10.1111/j.1445-2197.1993.tb00489.x
Subject(s) - medicine , biopsy , open biopsy , surgery , radiation therapy , head and neck cancer , radiology , general surgery
Many patients present with lateral neck lumps due to benign or malignant conditions, and they may be difficult to differentiate clinically. It is detrimental to perform an open neck biopsy on a patient with a cancer originating from the head and neck region (upper aerodigestive tract or skin) prior to definitive treatment. The biopsy interferes with the assessment and management of the neck, increasing morbidity. It may also decrease curability and perhaps induce fungation. A protocol to avoid the need for an open biopsy, using fine needle aspiration cytology and a thorough examination of the upper aerodigestive tract is recommended. The authors also recommend combined radical radiotherapy and surgery for the patient who has had an open biopsy. A thoughtless biopsy is both needless and harmful.