Fine needle aspiration biopsy of primary bone tumors

A review of 66 consecutive fine needle aspiration biopsies of primary bone tumors revealed that 48 (73%) were diagnostic. Twelve (18%) yielded inadequ ate specimens unsatisfactory for diagnosis, and five (8%) yielded specimens adequate far partial diagnosis, The only error, presumably attributable to sampling error, was an unappreciated dedifferentiated osteosarcoma arising in an otherwise typical giant cell tumor, Fine needle aspiration biopsy ob viated the need for open biopsy in 24 patients and simplified surgery in an additional 24 patients by establishing the diagnosis before surgical inter vention, A solitary soft tissue recurrence of a giant cell tumor has been t he only local recurrence, A review of 26 consecutive patients with osteosar coma revealed that seven tumors were diagnosed by primary open biopsy, Nine teen patients had fine needle aspiration biopsy, of which 15 were diagnosti c and four required supplemental open biopsy. The elapsed time between the initial office visit and the diagnostic confirmation averaged 5 days for pa tients requiring open biopsy compared with 0 days for patients whose fine n eedle aspiration biopsy was diagnostic. The total estimated charge for fine needle aspiration biopsy of a distal femoral osteosarcoma was $1060.00 com pared with $4312.25 for open biopsy, There have been no local recurrences I n patients in either group, Fine needle aspiration biopsy provides an accur ate, safe, efficient, well tolerated, and cost-effective method for diagnos ing classic primary bone tumors, including osteosarcoma.