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Biopsy Needle Size in Soft Tissue Sarcoma

Diagnostic Accuracy of Different Tru-Cut Needle Sizes in Soft Tissue Sarcomas: A Prospective Blinded Study

Status
Completed
Phases
NA
Study type
Interventional
Source
ClinicalTrials.gov
Registry ID
NCT07066774
Enrollment
30
Registered
2025-07-15
Start date
2025-02-03
Completion date
2025-06-18
Last updated
2025-07-15

For informational purposes only — not medical advice. Sourced from public registries and may not reflect the latest updates. Terms

Conditions

Soft Tissue Sarcoma of the Limb

Keywords

needle size, soft tissue sarcoma, diagnostic accuracy

Brief summary

Soft tissue sarcomas (STS) require accurate biopsy for diagnosis, grading, and management decisions. Although tru-cut biopsy is widely used, the optimal needle gauge remains uncertain. This study aimed to compare diagnostic accuracy and biopsy concordance rates of 14 G, 16 G, and 18 G tru-cut biopsy needles for extremity STS. 1. Is there any difference between the diagnostic accuracy measurements of 14G, 16G and 18G tru-cut biopsy needles for diagnosis of soft tissue sarcomas in extremities? 2. Do tumor size, tumor depth, tumor subtype and histological grade of the tumor affect the matching scores of biopsies? 3. Do tumor size, tumor depth, tumor subtype and histological grade of the tumor affect the biopsy result concordance and/or diagnostic accuracy measurements? 4. Does needle gauge effect successful tumoral tissue sampling or prediction of histological grade of soft tissue sarcomas?

Detailed description

In 2018, the National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) endorsed core-needle (tru-cut) biopsy as the preferred diagnostic modality for STSs \[14\]. They recommend obtaining at least three tissue core blocks through a single stab incision on the skin, with a 14-gauge needle, directing the needle along different trajectories. In clinical practice, both 14 G and 16 G cores are commonly used Although multiple tru-cut needle gauges are used in practice, to our knowledge, an ideal and safe biopsy needle that does not sacrife diagnostic performance has not been defined. This is a randomized prospective disagnostic accuracy study. Therefore we prospectively compared numerous variables (tumor size, tumor depth, subtype, histological grade etc.) with biopsy result concordance and diagnostic accuracy of 14 G, 16 G, and 18 G tru-cut needles in samples obtained from the same tumor for each patient with suspected extremity STS, to determine whether an optimal needle gauge exists.

Interventions

DIAGNOSTIC_TESTTru-cut Biopsy with 14 G Needle

Each participant underwent Percutaneous Tru-cut Biopsy with 14G tru-cut needle in a single session procedure. There are no studies to our knowledge to compare samples from the same tumor

DIAGNOSTIC_TESTTru-cut Biopsy with 16G tru-cut needle

Each participant underwent Percutaneous Tru-cut Biopsy with 16 tru-cut needle in a single session procedure. There are no studies to our knowledge to compare samples from the same tumor

DIAGNOSTIC_TESTTru-cut Biopsy with 18G tru-cut needle

Each participant underwent Percutaneous Tru-cut Biopsy with 18G tru-cut needle in a single session procedure. There are no studies to our knowledge to compare samples from the same tumor

Sponsors

Geotek Medical Products Industry and Trade Co., Ltd., Ankara, Türkiye
CollaboratorUNKNOWN
Ankara City Hospital Bilkent
Lead SponsorOTHER

Study design

Allocation
NA
Intervention model
SINGLE_GROUP
Primary purpose
DIAGNOSTIC
Masking
SINGLE (Outcomes Assessor)

Eligibility

Sex/Gender
ALL
Healthy volunteers
No

Inclusion criteria

* Patients presenting to the Orthopedic Oncology outpatient clinic at Ankara Bilkent City Hospital with suspected or preliminary findings on physical examination suggesting soft tissue sarcoma. Patients presenting to the Orthopedic Oncology outpatient clinic at Ankara Bilkent City Hospital with suspected or preliminary findings on radiological imaging suggesting soft tissue sarcoma. Patients with soft tissue masses in extremities which require pathological examination

Exclusion criteria

* Patients with a prior diagnosis of the existing mass, coagulation disorders, active infection at the tumor site, a history of previous surgery or radiotherapy to the tumor region, medical conditions contraindicating tru-cut biopsy, or those who did not consent to participate after detailed explanation of the study, were excluded.

Design outcomes

Primary

MeasureTime frameDescription
Diagnostic accuracy methodsFrom enrollment to the end of study at 4 monthsSensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, negative predictive value, false positive rate and false negative rate was analyzed for 3 different needle sizes

Countries

Turkey (Türkiye)

Outcome results

None listed

Source: ClinicalTrials.gov · Data processed: Feb 4, 2026