[Percutaneous bone puncture biopsy with trocar. Apropos of 60 cases]

Deep bone biopsies were performed in 58 patients over the last 2 years, in a radiology department in Tours, France, under television screen control. Data obtained included pathologic, cytologic and bacteriologic features in the 60 biopsies conducted, localization being the spine in 52 cases (12 dorsal, 36 lumbar, 4 sacroiliac) and the pelvis 8 times. Etiology was a tumoral process in 15 cases (14 metastases and 1 reticulosarcoma), 7 infectious processes including 2 cases of tuberculosis, 26 cases of decalcifying degenerative osteopathies, 1 Paget's disease, 1 ankylosing spondylitis and 1 bone infarct. Biopsy was unsuccessful in 9 cases, the success rate being an overall 85%. Complications were not observed. Conducted under local anesthesia, deep bone biopsy provides a rapid diagnosis and allows a shortened hospital stay. Surgery is generally avoided and appropriate treatment instituted more rapidly.