Accuracy and Safety of Coplanar Template Assistance for Head and Neck Biopsies.

Tumors in head and neck region refer to those located above the clavicle, the upper boundary is the skull base, the posterior boundary is cervical vertebra, excluding brain spinal cord and other central nervous system and Intraocular tumor. Include oral cavity (lips, tongue, hard palate, floor of mouth, gums), oropharynx (middle of throat behind mouth, including tongue base, tonsils, and soft palate), larynx, hypopharynx (lower throat), paranasal sinuses, nasopharynx, salivary glands (Parotid, submandibular and minor salivary glands), thyroid, skin cancers and metastatic cancers of the head and neck. Tissue sampling of lesions in the head and neck is limited due to the complex regional anatomy, including nerves, vessels, and salivary glands. Computed tomography (CT)-guided percutaneous puncture biopsy is a well-recognized technique that can facilitate histopathological diagnosis and therapeutic planning of head and neck masses, and may be particularly useful when lesions are not accessible via an endoscope or by palpation-guided sampling. CT image-guided free-hand puncture biopsy is widely used in clinical practice. However, multiple CT scan and adjustment of position of the biopsy needle increased radiation exposure and the probability of other adverse events, such as bleeding and nerve injury. Therefore, we need a more efficient approach to guidance which is precisely positioned and safe to operate.

In recent years, we have taken advantage of three-dimensional(3D) printing template to improve the accuracy and safety of puncture related operations, which simplifies the procedure and shortens the procedure duration[3-4]. 3D printing template include co-planar and non co-planar[5]. However, few prospective studies have focused on three-dimensional printing co-planer template(3D-PCT) for CT-guided neck and head biopsy. The purposes of this prospective, single-arm study are to determine the accuracy and safety of CT guided percutaneous head and neck biopsy assisted by 3D-PCT.

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