A study to evaluate the efficacy of image-guided core biopsy in the diagnosis and management of lymphoma—Results in 103 biopsies

Rates and Outcomes of Follicular Lymphoma Transformation in the Immunochemotherapy Era: A Report From the University of Iowa/Mayo Clinic Specialized Program of Research Excellence Molecular Epidemiology Resource

“…[14][15][16] Initial treatment strategies for FL have changed substantially over 20 years with the availability of nucleoside analogs, increasing use of alkylator-based over anthracycline-including regimens as initial therapy, and monoclonal antibody as part of early treatment choices. 17 Indeed, one recent series of patients diagnosed from 1979 to 2007 found a significantly higher risk of transformation in patients diagnosed before 1990.…”

“…Modern technologyaided diagnostic techniques may have allowed us to identify more patients at diagnosis who had components of both FL and DLBCL at presentation, thereby reducing the potential for having them characterized as transformed later in their course. [14][15][16] Although the fraction of histologically confirmed transformations (85%) in this series is the highest reported among series that included patients with clinically defined transformation, we systematically applied the well-accepted clinical definition of transformation to all patients with FL with relapses, which should help minimize under-reporting of transformations. In addition, we are unlikely to have missed transformations in patients not followed at our institution since we have been in active contact with all patients, with complete loss to follow-up of 14 (0.3%) and withdrawal of 98 (1.8%) patients of 5,322 patients with lymphoma enrolled to date in the MER.…”

A Comparison of Fine Needle Aspiration Biopsy and Excisional Biopsy Results in the Diagnosis of Lymphoma Confined to the Head and Neck Region

“…Additional use of adjunctive techniques, including flow cytometry and immunohistochemistry, may increase the diagnostic value of this technique (11)(12)(13). However, when performed under image-guidance, the diagnostic value of FNAB was reported to increase significantly (8). Although FNAB is commonly used in lymphoma patients, many clinicians consider it to be an insufficient procedure (1).…”

Author’s response

“…2 Finally, the authors make no mention of oral and maxillofacial surgeons managing neck lumps. In many units in the UK, both otolaryngologists and oral and maxillofacial surgeons work together to provide a high quality neck lump service with a head and neck radiologist; many patients can be discharged at the first visit following clinical assessment and ultrasonography.…”