VALIDITY OF CORE NEEDLE BIOPSY IN THE HISTOPATHOLOGICAL VERIFICATION OF PAROTID GLAND LESIONS

Background and purpose: An adequa- te diagnosis of a parotid gland enlargement is crucial for an appropriate treatment. The aim of the study was to evaluate effectiveness and minimal invasiveness of diagnostic procedures of core-needle biopsy. Materials and Methods: This study involved 67 patients, aged 40 to 90 years, with a tumor mass in the submandibular and parotid region. Method used for tak- ing samples of pathological masses was BD Disposable guillotine spring-loaded needle for biopsies on soft tis- sues. Final diagnoses were established on the basis of surgical-pathological results in 67 cases, and on the ba- sis of histopathological analysis of core-biopsy samples. Results: Compared with results of surgical bi- opsy, core-needle biopsy had sensitivity of 100% in differentiating benign from malignant lesions and in setting up an adequate diagnosis. Its positive predictive values were 100% in diagnosing malignancy. There were found 28 non-malignant and 39 malignant lesions with fewer disadvantages for patients.