Transvaginal ultrasound-guided fine needle sampling of deep cancer recurrences in the pelvis: usefulness and limitations

The usefulness of fine needle sampling (FNS) under transvaginal ultrasound guidance in gynecologic oncology patients is evaluated in this study. Between 1990 and 1993, 101 FNS under transvaginal ultrasound guidance were performed in 88 sessions. All targets were located deep in the pelvis and their median diameter was 30 mm. All procedures were performed on an outpatient basis. Sampling consisted of 46 cytologic aspirates and 55 biopsies. No false-positive result was obtained when cytologic results were correlated with both clinical outcome and surgical biopsy. For aspirates and biopsies, sensitivity was respectively 76 and 91%, while accuracy was 83 and 91%. Inadequate results were recorded in 11 aspirates and in 9 biopsies. In 7 of 12 sessions where both aspiration and biopsy were performed, false-negative or inadequate cytologic result was overcome by true-positive biopsies. No moderate or severe complication was observed. FNS under transvaginal ultrasound guidance is a safe procedure with limited invasiveness and extremely high specificity even when performed on small targets. Whenever possible, biopsies should be preferred. A negative FNS obtained from a clinically suspicious lesion requires a repeat sampling.