RESUMEN
INTRODUCTION: Benign neck masses are one of the most common causes of clinical consultation in head & neck (H&N) clinics. Fine needle aspiration cytology (FNAC) and core needle biopsy (CNB) have become among the main strategies for the diagnostic work-up of palpable and non-palpable neck lumps. Moreover, numerous studies have established the safety, high diagnostic yield, and added value of image-guided H&N biopsies, which play an important role in diagnosis, staging, and treatment planning, and can obviate the need for surgery for many patients. Nonetheless, despite the success of both techniques, there is a lack of recent studies regarding their safety and associated complication rates. MATERIAL & METHOD: A retrospective analysis was performed of prospective data on patients undergoing ultrasound-guided FNAC or CNB for benign H&N disease (e.g., salivary gland benign tumors, branchial cleft cyst, thyroglossal duct, cyst, lipoma, or neurinoma) between June 2016 and June 2021 in a tertiary university hospital. RESULTS: Overall, 192 patients were included (105 [54.7%] men and 87 [45.3%] women). The Kolmogorov-Smirnov test indicated that our data were normally distributed (p = 0.452). The mean age of enrolled patients was 54 ± 10 (range: 18-87). The anatomical site most commonly affected was a major salivary gland (74%). Regarding incidence and type of complications, nine (4.7%) patients experienced complications, infection being the most common problem. The risk of complications was highest in patients with branchial cleft cysts who had undergone FNAC (p = 0.028). Overall, the risk of complications was not associated with the type of technique (p = 0.603; OR: 0.942; 95% confidence interval = 0.245-3.624). CONCLUSION: According to our results, FNAC and CNB are generally safe and reliable procedures in the diagnostic work-up of H&N lumps. Nevertheless, physicians should be aware of certain risks associated with these procedures.
RESUMEN
INTRODUCTION: Sialolithiasis is the most common cause of symptomatic obstructive sialadenitis. Sialendoscopy represent a minimally invasive technique that has evolved significantly in the last 2 decades, with high success rates in managing sialolithiasis and allowing gland preservation. Lithotripsy assisted or not by laser represents the fragmentation of stone or lithiasis within the salivary duct followed immediately by removal of the fragmented pieces. Material and Methods: A systematic review investigating the role of laser-assisted lithotripsy with sialendoscopy (LAS) in the treatment of sialolithiasis was performed. RESULTS: Sixteen papers meet inclusion criteria. The mean maximum diameter of lithiasis was 7.11 mm (min: 2 mm/max: 17 mm; standard deviation [SD]: 2.33; 95% CI = 1.573-4.463). Success rate described ranging from 71% to 100% with a mean of 87.3% (SD: 7.21; 95% CI: 5.326-11.158) and the gland preservation rate was 97%. Considering only "non retrievable-non floating stones" studies that include both parotid and submandibular stones: Eight clinical retrospectives, nonrandomized studies and 1 prospective, nonrandomized study report results from parotid and submandibular gland lithiasis. According to this, the most common gland involved was the submandibular gland (n = 153; 65.1%), in comparison to the parotid gland (n = 82; 34.8%). CONCLUSION: The current evidence supports LAS as a conservative, efficient, safe, and gland-preserving alternative technique, in experienced hands, for management of mid-size sialolith removal from major salivary glands, when the indication is appropriate.