Needle biopsy of incidentally discovered XXXX is rarely informative and potentially hazardous.

@entity1 @entity1911 @entity5 @entity700 @entity1410 @entity3 @entity774
INTRODUCTION: The role of fine needle aspiration (FNA) biopsy in @entity1 with incidentally discovered @entity774 is limited. However, image-guided biopsy continues to be performed in this setting, in some cases before biochemical workup. The purpose of this study was to review the value of FNA biopsy of @entity774 in @entity1 referred to a large university endocrine surgical practice. METHODS: @entity1 referred to the endocrine surgery service at our institutions from 1997 through 2006 for evaluation of an adrenal mass were identified and those who underwent needle biopsy were selected for analysis. RESULTS: Of the 347 @entity1 evaluated for @entity774 , 22 (6.3%) had undergone needle biopsy before referral. Clinical presentations were @entity700 (n = 15), suspected @entity3 (n = 4), and symptomatic large mass (n = 3). In 10 cases, a radiology report had either suggested a biopsy or stated that the mass was "amenable" to biopsy. In the 15 @entity1 with @entity700 , 12 (80%) had nondiagnostic biopsy results and 2 showed @entity1911 . Biopsies were diagnostic in 2 of 4 @entity1 with suspected @entity3 and in 1 of 3 @entity1 with a large symptomatic mass. There were 3 biopsy-related complications: 1 liver @entity1410 , 1 hemothorax, and 1 duodenal @entity1410 . No biochemical testing for @entity1911 was performed before biopsy in 10 @entity1 , 5 of whom were ultimately diagnosed with @entity1911 . Biopsy results did not alter clinical management in any of the 22 @entity1 in this study. CONCLUSIONS: FNA biopsy is not useful in the diagnostic workup of @entity1 with incidentally discovered @entity774 and rarely alters management in @entity1 with resectable adrenal metastases and primary @entity5 . Furthermore, biopsy in this setting can also be potentially hazardous. Language that suggests biopsy of @entity774 should be avoided in radiology reports.
