Diagnostic efficacy was equal to 93,3% (6/90 nondiagnostic) for the first group and 98,9% (1/90 nondiagnostic) for the second group,
with a statistically significant difference between the two groups (p=0,049).
The values of sensitivity,
specificity,
diagnostic accuracy,
PPV and NPV were respectively 94,5%,
100%,
95,2%,
100% and 73,3% for the CBCT guided biopsies and 98,6%,
100%,
98,9%,
100% and 94,4% for the PET/CT-CBCT guided biopsies,
without any statistically significant difference between the two groups.
Of the 73 malignant lesions in the first group,
21 underwent surgical resection; histological agreement between sample biopsy diagnosis and definitive histological diagnosis was observed in 18/21 cases (85,7%).
Of the 72 malignant lesions in the second group,
26 underwent surgical resection; histological agreement was observed in 25/26 cases (96,2%).
There were not statistically significant differences between the two groups.
In the first group,
15/69 lesions,
resulted malignant at the biopsy,
didn’t require immunohistochemical and molecular biology investigations; in 36/54 cases (66,7%) was possible to make a detailed histological diagnosis,
while in 18/54 cases (33,3%) this was not possible.
In the second group,
10/71 lesions resulted malignant at the biopsy,
didn’t require further investigations; in 47/61 cases (77,0%) was possible to formulate a detailed histological diagnosis,
while in 14/61 cases (23,0%) this was not possible. No statistically significant differences between the two groups were observed.
No major complications were observed in the two groups.
The median effective dose calculated was equal to 8,11 mSv (range: 2,45-19,15 mSv) for the first group and to 8,37 mSv (range: 2,33-29,03 mSv) for the second group.
The mean procedure timing was 21 minutes (range: 10-38 min) for the first group and 22 minutes (range: 10-40 min) for the second group.