title: Percutaneous needle biopsy of musculoskeletal lesions. 2. Cost-effectiveness.
abstract: We compared the cost-effectiveness of fluoroscopically directed percutaneous needle biopsy (PNB) of musculoskeletal lesions, CT-guided PNB, and open biopsy. We independently assessed the following characteristics: suspected lesion type (metastatic deposit, infection, or primary neoplasm, as determined by clinical findings and radiologic appearance before biopsy); lesion location (axial or appendicular); and appearance on plain films (radiolucent or lytic, sclerotic, vertebral compression fracture, and soft-tissue lesions). In suspected primary tumors, cost-effectiveness of PNB was similar to that of open biopsy: fluoroscopically directed PNB was slightly more cost-effective than open biopsy whereas CT-directed PNB was slightly less cost-effective. Either type of PNB was cost-effective for suspected metastatic deposits and infections, axial and appendicular lesions, radiolucent or lytic lesions, and soft-tissue lesions. We conclude that PNB is cost-effective for most musculoskeletal lesions.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, College of Medicine, University of Iowa, Iowa City 52242.
authors.forename: M A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Fraser-Hill
authors.forename: D L
authors.initials: DL
authors.lastname: Renfrew
authors.forename: P E
authors.initials: PE
authors.lastname: Hilsenrath
mesh_terms: D001706:Biopsy / Q000191:economics; D001707:Biopsy, Needle / Q000191:economics* / Q000379:methods; D003362:Cost-Benefit Analysis; D005471:Fluoroscopy; D007239:Infections / Q000175:diagnosis; D009140:Musculoskeletal Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000191:economics; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed