Diagnostic Performance and Operator Workload of Core Needle Biopsy Versus Fine-Needle Aspiration for…

Cohort studyAcademic radiology· Aug 2026

Diagnostic Performance and Operator Workload of Core Needle Biopsy Versus Fine-Needle Aspiration for Superficial Lymph Nodes: A Prospective, Paired Comparative Study.

Qinxian Zhao, Qiong Meng, Zhen Wang

CytopathologyCohort studyClinical practiceQ1IF 3.7

Core needle biopsy had higher sensitivity than fine-needle aspiration for superficial lymph nodes.

Diagnostic Performance and Operator Workload of Core Needle Biopsy Versus Fine-Needle Aspiration for Superficial Lymph Nodes: A Prospective, Paired Comparative Study.

Qinxian Zhao … Zhen Wang

Academic radiology · Aug 2026

Background

Ultrasound-guided core needle biopsy (core needle biopsy) and fine-needle aspiration (fine-needle aspiration) are established techniques for evaluating superficial lymphadenopathy.

Methods

This prospective study enrolled 285 patients undergoing both core needle biopsy and fine-needle aspiration on the same abnormal superficial lymph node from January to June 2025.

n = 285 patients

Results

core needle biopsy caught more true positives than fine-needle aspiration

CNB sensitivity

96.2%

FNA sensitivity

90.4%

More results

Specificity was 100% for both.

Core needle biopsy imposed higher workload across four NASA-TLX domains (all P < 0.001).

Procedure time predicted high mental demand for core needle biopsy (OR = 1.01; P = 0.03).

More results

Distance to target node (OR = 38.03; P = 0.01) and arterial pulsation (OR = 21.59; P = 0.02) predicted missed diagnosis for core needle biopsy; distance alone predicted for fine-needle aspiration (OR = 4.81; P = 0.01).

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Conclusion · 1 of 3

Core needle biopsy offers superior diagnostic accuracy but incurs higher workload and bleeding risk. fine-needle aspiration is preferable when speed and patient comfort are prioritized.

Conclusion · 2 of 3

Technique selection should be individualized based on nodal characteristics.

Conclusion · 3 of 3

CLINICAL IMPACT: Technique selection for superficial lymph node biopsy should be individualized based on nodal characteristics, balancing diagnostic accuracy, patient safety, and operator cognitive burden.

Diagnostic Performance and Operator Workload of Core Needle Biopsy Versus Fine-Needle Aspiration for Superficial Lymph Nodes: A Prospective, Paired Comparative Study.

Diagnostic Performance and Operator Workload of Core Needle Biopsy Versus Fine-Needle Aspiration for Superficial Lymph Nodes: A Prospective, Paired Comparative Study.

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