Fluoroscopically Guided Percutaneous Bone Biopsy

Abstract

FLUOROSCOPICALLY guided percutaneous needle biopsy is a safe and reliable method for obtaining cytological or histological specimens from bone lesions. Adequate needle biopsy obviates the need for general anesthesia or extensive open-biopsy procedures in debilitated patients and improves planning for further diagnosis and therapy. Percutaneous needle biopsy under fluoroscopic guidance has become an important technique in our institution for evaluating accessible skeletal lesions. <h3>Materials and Methods</h3> A comprehensive review of percutaneous needle bone biopsy was presented by de Santos et al¹in 1978. The biopsy site is chosen after reviewing preliminary studies, such as roentgenograms, tomograms, radioisotope bone scans, and computed tomograms. The approach to the lesion is dictated by local anatomy, such as major blood vessels, nerves, or the pleural space. If multiple lesions are present, a specific lesion that allows both good fluoroscopic visualization and a safe approach is selected for biopsy. A lytic lesion, or a