J Korean Radiol Soc.  1999 Dec;41(6):1195-1199. 10.3348/jkrs.1999.41.6.1195.

Diagnostic Usefulness of CT-guided Pe rcutaneous Biopsy of the Spine

• Kang KJ
• Kim WH
• Byun JS
• Cho YK
• Cho KJ
• Moon KH
• Seok EH
• Shin SH
• Han H

• KMID: 2200803
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.3348/jkrs.1999.41.6.1195

Abstract

PURPOSE: To evaluate the diagnostic value of CT-guided percutaneous biopsy of inflammatory and tumorous lesions of the spine and paraspinal soft tissue. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Twenty-three patients underwent CT-guided percutaneous biopsy of the spine and paraspinal soft tissue. Tentative clinical diagnoses determined before biopsy were tuberculous spondylitis (n=5), pyogenic spondylitis (n=4), butterfly vertebra (n=1), old compression fracture (n=3), discitis (n=1), hemangioma (n=1), metastasis (n=7) and multiple myeloma (n=1). Biopsy was performed at the following levels: cervical-(n=1), thoracic-(n=9), and lumbar-spine(n=13). The approach to biopsy of the spine and paraspinal soft tissue lesions was posterolateral (n=11), posterior (n=2), or transpedicular (n=10). RESULTS: Tissue considered adequate by the pathologist involved was obtained in 21 (91%) of the 23 cases. In 19 cases, pathologic findings supported the clinical diagnoses determined before biopsy. In two cases, pathologic and clinical diagnoses differed. Complications such as severe pain, bleeding, infection, neurologic deficit or damage to internal organs were detected neither during or after the procedure. CONCLUSION: CT-guided percutaneous biopsy is a safe and reliable method of obtaining a diagnosis in many cases involving different spinal and paraspinal lesions.

Keyword

Spine, biopsy; Computed tomography (CT), guidance; Spine, diseases

MeSH Terms

Biopsy*
Butterflies
Diagnosis
Discitis
Fractures, Compression
Hemangioma
Hemorrhage
Humans
Multiple Myeloma
Neoplasm Metastasis
Neurologic Manifestations
Spine*
Spondylitis