Open Versus Core Needle Biopsy in Lower-Extremity Sarcoma: Current Practice Patterns and Patient Outcomes

Area of Science:

• Oncology
• Surgical Pathology
• Clinical Research

Background:

• Open biopsy (OB) was historically the standard for sarcoma diagnosis.
• Core needle biopsy (CNB) is increasingly utilized, but its impact on surgical outcomes is not well-defined.

Purpose of the Study:

• To analyze international patterns of sarcoma biopsy practices.
• To compare the effects of OB versus CNB on surgical resection, infection risk, oncological outcomes, and functional scores.

Main Methods:

• Secondary analysis of the prospective, multicenter PARITY study.
• Inclusion of 464 patients from 48 centers across 12 countries.
• Comparison of outcomes between OB and CNB groups using statistical tests and 1-year follow-up.

Main Results:

• CNB was the predominant biopsy method (57.5%), though OB was more frequent in the U.S. and Canada.
• OB cases had significantly longer operative times (324 vs. 260 minutes) and greater tissue excision.
• No significant differences were observed in surgical site infections or oncological outcomes at 1 year between OB and CNB groups.

Conclusions:

• Core needle biopsy is the more common sarcoma biopsy technique globally.
• Open biopsy results in longer operative times and more tissue removal but does not negatively impact infection rates or oncological outcomes.