Diagnostic yield and safety of ultrasound-guided percutaneous testicular biopsies in children

Background: Traditionally, testicular biopsy is performed using an open surgical approach. Ultrasound-guided percutaneous biopsy is a less invasive alternative and can be performed in children.

Objective: The aim of this study is to report our technique and to assess the diagnostic accuracy and safety of ultrasound-guided percutaneous biopsy of testicular masses in children.

Materials and methods: This is a 16-year retrospective review of ultrasound-guided percutaneous testicular biopsies at a single pediatric hospital.

Results: We performed nine ultrasound-guided testicular biopsies in 9 patients (median age: 3 years, range: 4 months-11 years; median weight: 20.9 kg, range: 8.4-35 kg; median volume of testicular lesion biopsied: 4.4 mL, range: 1.2-17 mL). A percutaneous co-axial technique was used for 5/9 biopsies with absorbable gelatin sponge tract embolization performed in 4 of those biopsies. A non-co-axial technique was used in 4/9 biopsies. A median of three cores, range 2-6, were obtained. The diagnostic yield was 89% with one biopsy yielding material suggestive of, but insufficient for, a definitive diagnosis. The most common histological diagnosis was leukemic infiltration, occurring in 6/9 biopsies. Of the remaining three biopsies, one biopsy was suggestive of, but not confirmatory for, juvenile granulosa cell tumor and two biopsies confirmed normal testicular tissue; the long-term follow-up of which demonstrated normal growth and no lasting damage. There was one (clinically insignificant) complication out of nine biopsies (11%, 95% confidence interval 0-44%): a mild, self-resolving scrotal hematoma.

Conclusion: Ultrasound-guided testicular biopsy can be performed safely in children as an alternative to open surgical biopsy, with a high diagnostic yield and low complication rate.