[Metastatic vertebral tumors diagnosed by percutaneous needle biopsy]

The purpose of this paper is to establish diagnostic value of percutaneous needle biopsy in patients with vertebral tumours treated in Department of Neurosurgery in Poznań between 1975 and 1996. Radiological examinations: X-rays, plain X-rays, CT and MR, demonstrated vertebral destruction and allowed needle biopsy performance. The most frequent destruction was observed in thoracic region (45% of cases), rarely--in sacral bone (5%). In cases with single neoplastic focus, only in vertebral body, histological diagnosis by needle biopsy was achieved in 70% of cases. However in patients with paravertebral tumour positive results of needle biopsy were higher--82% of cases.