Comparison meta-analysis of intraoperative MRI-guided needle biopsy versus conventional stereotactic needle biopsies

MRI-guided needle biopsy (INB) is an emerging alternative to conventional frame-based or frameless stereotactic needle biopsy (SNB). Studies of INB have been limited to select case series, and comparative studies between INB and SNB remain a missing gap in the literature. We performed a meta-analysis to compare INB and SNB literature in terms of diagnostic yield, surgical morbidity and mortality, tumor size, and procedural time.

We identified 36 separate cohorts in 26 studies of SNB (including both frameless and frame-based biopsies, 3374 patients) and 27 studies of INB (977 patients). Meta-regression and meta-analysis by proportions were performed.

Relative to publications that studied SNB, publications studying INB more likely involved brain tumors located in the eloquent cerebrum (79.4% versus 62.6%, P = 0.004) or are smaller in maximal diameter (2.7 cm in INB group versus 3.6 cm in the SNB group, P = .032). Despite these differences, the pooled estimate of diagnostic yield for INB was higher than SNB (95.4% versus 92.3%, P = .026). The pooled estimate of surgical morbidity was higher in the SNB group (12.0%) relative to the INB group (6.1%) (P = .004). Mortality after the procedure was comparable between INB and SNB (1.7% versus 2.3%, P = .288). Procedural time was statistically comparable at 90.3 min (INB) and 103.7 min (SNB), respectively (P = .526).

Our meta-analysis indicates that, relative to SNB, INB is more often performed for the challenging, smaller-sized brain tumors located in the eloquent cerebrum. INB is associated with lower surgical morbidity and improved diagnostic yield.