CT-Guided Head and Neck Procedures

When a new mass or other lesion is discovered in the head or neck area, sometimes doctors need to obtain a piece of the mass in order to determine what it is and how best to treat it. A CT-guided biopsy is a procedure which is performed under local anesthesia. A small needle is advanced into the lesion using the guidance of a CT scan. This allows the physician to visualize and avoid important structures in the neck such as arteries, salivary glands, and the airway. The neurointerventional and interventional radiologists at CCNS perform CT-guided procedures at Sharp Grossmont Hospital.