[Value and results of radioguided deep spinal biopsy]

MATERIAL AND METHODS. 76 percutaneous vertebral biopsies were performed with fluoroscopic guidance at the Radiology B Service, Hôpital Cochin in Paris, from November 1991 to March 1994. There were 12 cervical, 23 thoracic, 45 lumbar and sacral biopsies. There were 71 patients (28 women and 43 men), aged 22 to 88 years old (mean age 55.9). The needle used was either a trophine needle (Mazabraud) or a cutting needle (Surcut) or both. We have been doing vertebral percutaneous biopsies for 20 years in our radiology Service, and we published a review of 100 cases in 1983. The aim of this second review is to actualize the technique and the results. RESULTS. An accurate diagnosis was made in 80% of all cases. Diagnosis were: malignancy (34 cases), infection (21 cases), benign compression fracture (10 cases), miscellaneous (11 cases). There were two complications, one at the cervical spine (aggravation of a cervical cord compression) and one at the thoracic spine (pneumothorax). CONCLUSION. Percutaneous vertebral biopsy under fluoroscopic guidance is a safe and reliable method of obtaining a diagnosis in different spine lesions, avoiding thus, in most cases, a surgical procedure.