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Percutaneous biopsy for prognostic testing of neuroblastoma
F A Hoffer1, T Chung, L Diller
1Department of Radiology, Children's Hospital, Boston, MA 02115, USA.
Purpose:
To determine whether percutaneous biopsy can provide the diagnostic and prognostic information necessary to treat children with advanced neuroblastoma.
Materials And Methods:
From 1991 through 1995, 21 percutaneous biopsies were performed in 20 children with advanced neuroblastoma by using 15- or 16-gauge core biopsy needles. An average of six samples were obtained. Since September 1994, fresh tissue was sent to the reference laboratory, where touch preparations were prepared for N-myc evaluation.
Results:
Histologic confirmation and prognostic information (Shimada classification) were obtained in all cases. Genetic prognostic information was obtained in 19 patients (95%), DNA index (ploidy) in 18 (90%), N-myc gene expression in 14 (70%), and cytogenetic analysis in 10 (50%). N-myc and ploidy determinations were successful in all five biopsy specimens obtained since September 1994.
Conclusion:
Percutaneous biopsy of advanced neuroblastoma is a feasible alternative to open biopsy.