COMPUTED TOMOGRAPHICALLY GUIDED BIOPSY OF THE SPINE

Study Design. Efficacy of the percutaneous biopsy of the spine under c omputed tomographic guidance was investigated. Seventy-five patients, ranging in age from 7 to 72 years, underwent this procedure. Objective s. To determine the usefulness of computed tomographically guided biop sies in the treatment of patients with spinal disorders. Summary of Ba ckground Data. The results of 68 biopsies (90.6%) were judged to be ac curate insofar as the samples of tissue obtained could be diagnosed as specific types of neoplasm, infective lesions, reactive lesions of no nspecific type, or normal bone. Methods. Biopsies that yielded a speci fic abnormality were categorized as true positives. The ''normal'' bio psies were followed for 6-18 months and were then deemed true negative s. Nondiagnostic ones were considered false negatives. Results. The re sults are acceptable with an accuracy rate of 90.6%. It is a safe and simple procedure with a short learning curve. Conclusions. Computed to mographically guided biopsy of the spine is recommended as a procedure of choice, especially in cervical and thoracic lesions. Computed tomo graphy is superior to fluoroscopy when dealing with small, deep-seated lesions especially in the cervical and thoracic regions and with lesi ons picked up on bone scan only, radiographs being negative. Needle bi opsy under computed tomographic guidance is safe and precise.