OBJECTIVETo explore the feasibility of CT guided percutaneous incisional needle biopsy (PINB) for deep pelvic masses at different locations via various puncture approaches.

METHODSPINBs under CT guidance were performed in 70 patients with 72 pelvic lesions through different puncture approaches. Their pathological findings and safety were evaluated after follow-up of a period of 1-34 months.

RESULTSPINBs were performed through transpiriform-muscle in 27 cases, 16 through transgluteal approach, 5 through posterior oblique approach in prone position, 8 by anterior or lateral transabdominal route, 8 through iliopsoas muscle and 8 by direct transosseous approach, respectively. Sixty-four malignant lesions were confirmed by pathology, including 30 adenocarcinomas, 19 squamous cell carcinomas, 5 unclassified malignant tumors, 3 small cell carcinomas, 2 malignant giant cell tumors of bone, 2 hepatocellular carcinomas and 3 false negative lesions which were confirmed at the second PINBs as malignant tumors, respectively. Benign neoplasms were confirmed in 8 cases, including fibrosis tissue in 6 lesions, bone tuberculosis in 1 and ovarian cyst in 1. The sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy rate were 95.3% (61/64), 100% (8/8), and 95.8% (69/72), respectively. Twenty-two cases via transpiriform-muscle approach suffered from transient deep pelvic pain which radiated to the lower limbs of the same side. No hematoma, nerve damage, infection, and tumor transplantation in pelvic cavity developed after the PINB procedure.

CONCLUSIONCT guided percutaneous incisional needle biopsy through different puncture approaches is safe and feasible for the patients with deep masses at different locations in the pelvic cavity.