Jamshidi needle biopsy for diagnosis of bone lesions in small animals

Sixty-two bone lesions in 59 small animals were biopsied using a Jamshidi-type biopsy needle. In all instances, the Jamshidi needle biopsy diagnosis was confirmed or disputed by results of histologic examination of specimens obtained by surgical resection or by amputation or at necropsy. In 57 of 62 bone lesions, biopsy resulted in an accurate diagnosis of tumor vs nontumor, yielding an accuracy rate of 91.9%. The specific tumor type or lesion type was identified accurately by Jamshidi needle biopsy in 51 of 62 lesions, yielding an accuracy of 82.3%. Of the 62 bone lesions, 48 were intramedullary osteosarcoma and 62.5% of these were subclassified correctly by Jamshidi needle biopsy results as osteoblastic, chondroblastic, fibroblastic, osteoclastic, or poorly differentiated osteosarcoma. Jamshidi needle biopsy was easy, quick, and safe, and its high accuracy rate of diagnosis indicated that it should be a valuable aid for diagnosis of bone lesions in small animals.