Needle muscle biopsy: will it make open biopsy obsolete?

Area of Science:

• Neurology
• Pathology
• Musculoskeletal Disorders

Background:

• Skeletal muscle biopsies are crucial for diagnosing neuromuscular conditions.
• Evaluating the utility and safety of needle muscle biopsy in a clinical setting is important for diagnostic accuracy.
• The procedure's role in carrier detection for genetic muscle disorders warrants assessment.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the diagnostic yield and safety of needle muscle biopsy.
• To categorize the spectrum of neuromuscular conditions diagnosed via biopsy.
• To assess the utility of needle biopsy for muscular dystrophy carrier detection.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective analysis of 75 consecutive needle muscle biopsies performed over two years.
• Categorization of biopsy findings into specific neuromuscular conditions and normal/non-specific changes.
• Documentation of procedure complications and setting (outpatient vs. inpatient).

Main Results:

• Adequate biopsies were obtained in 69 out of 75 cases (92%).
• Diagnoses included necrotizing myopathy (10), neurogenic atrophy (7), metabolic myopathy (5), vasculitis (2), normal muscle (7), and non-specific changes (9).
• Twenty-nine cases were performed for muscular dystrophy carrier detection, with no reported complications.

Conclusions:

• Needle muscle biopsy is a safe, quick, and effective method for diagnosing a wide range of neuromuscular conditions.
• It is a valuable tool for muscular dystrophy carrier detection.
• Needle biopsy is recommended as the primary method for skeletal muscle sampling, with open biopsy reserved for specific indications.