Manual percutaneous method for diagnosis of spinal tumors

Summary. In a patient with malignant tumors of bone it is common to perform biopsy prior to surgery. There are a number of alternatives available for obtaining a specimen for pathological examination. We have introduced the technique of manual percutaneous discectomy (MPD), as a method for taking material for analysis. In a series of 13 symptomatic patients harbouring suspected spinal tumors the MPD was done and the accurate diagnosis was confirmed in all of them. Only three patients had a minor transient complication. This method enables us to obtain sufficient pathological material for analysis and has minimal morbidity and it could have priority over the other methods.