Diagnostic Accuracy of Core Needle Biopsy versus Open Biopsy in Bone Tumors

The final diagnosis of the tumors depends on the biopsy and the pathology result. The musculoskeletal tumor biopsy can be performed either by core needle biopsy or by open biopsy technique. The procedural cost is lower and the technique is simpler in core needle biopsy but tissue sample may not be enough. In this study we will compare the results of core needle biopsy with open biopsy in musculoskeletal tumors. In a prospective study 75 patients with skeletal lesions were scheduled for open biopsy. A needle biopsy was also done before starting the operation in the same operating session. The pathology reports of core needle biopsy and open biopsy were then compared. The final pathology report following the definitive surgery was also compared with either of those two biopsy techniques. The diagnostic accuracy of core needle biopsy for skeletal tumors was 77.2%. The value for benign tumors was 69.2% for primary malignant tumors 82.7% for tumor-like benign lesions 50% and for metastatic tumors 100%. The accuracy of open biopsy was 100% for all tumors. Needle biopsy is an accurate and low cost method for diagnosis of skeletal tumors but possibility of failure is present in very few cases.