Percutaneous C-Arm Free O-Arm Navigated Biopsy for Spinal Pathologies: A Technical Note

Area of Science:

• Neurosurgery
• Interventional Radiology
• Oncology

Background:

• Percutaneous biopsy under computed tomography (CT) guidance is standard for diagnosing spinal conditions.
• Needle biopsies can yield inadequate specimens, hindering accurate diagnosis.
• A novel C-arm free O-arm navigated microforceps biopsy technique is presented.

Purpose of the Study:

• To describe a new biopsy technique using O-arm navigation for spinal pathologies.
• To evaluate the effectiveness of this technique in obtaining sufficient diagnostic tissue.
• To present a case study of its application.

Main Methods:

• A patient with T1 vertebra pathology underwent initial CT-guided biopsy yielding insufficient tissue.
• The patient then underwent a C-arm free O-arm navigated biopsy using microforceps.
• Histopathological examination of the O-arm guided sample led to a diagnosis.

Main Results:

• The O-arm navigated biopsy successfully obtained sufficient tissue for diagnosis.
• Small cell carcinoma was diagnosed from the biopsy specimen.
• The patient subsequently received chemotherapy and radiation.

Conclusions:

• C-arm free O-arm navigated biopsy is an effective method for spinal pathologies.
• 3-D imaging allows precise tissue acquisition from specific pathological sites.
• This technique offers a viable alternative to repeat CT-guided or open biopsies.