Ultrasound-guided skeletal biopsies

Area of Science:

• Musculoskeletal imaging
• Interventional radiology
• Diagnostic procedures

Background:

• Percutaneous biopsy of skeletal lesions is a standard diagnostic procedure.
• Current guidance methods include fluoroscopy and computed tomography (CT).
• Ultrasonography offers a real-time imaging alternative for guiding biopsies.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the efficacy and safety of ultrasonography for guiding percutaneous bone lesion biopsies.
• To describe the application of ultrasound in diverse skeletal lesion types.

Main Methods:

• Ultrasound guidance was used for percutaneous biopsy in 65 skeletal lesions across 63 patients.
• Lesions were categorized into four groups based on imaging characteristics (lytic with soft tissue mass, lytic with disrupted cortex, lytic with intact cortex, sclerotic).
• Varied techniques and materials were employed depending on lesion characteristics.

Main Results:

• High diagnostic success rates were achieved: 76.9% with cytology, 86.1% with histology, and 92.3% with combined methods.
• No complications were reported during or after the procedures.
• Ultrasound effectively guided biopsies in lytic and sclerotic bone lesions.

Conclusions:

• Ultrasonography is a highly accurate and safe guidance modality for percutaneous bone biopsy.
• The technique is effective for various bone lesion types, including lytic and sclerotic.
• Ultrasound's ability to visualize cortical changes and soft tissue components enhances diagnostic yield.