title: Percutaneous automated biopsy in the diagnosis of primary infectious spondylitis.
abstract: Three cases of primary infectious spondylitis, two caused by Staphylococcus aureus and one by tuberculosis, were diagnosed using the method previously described for automated percutaneous discectomy. All three patients, in whom biopsy using fine needle techniques previously was unsuccessful, had positive cultures from specimens obtained using the automated method. The method combines the advantages of local anesthesia and minimal morbidity with the obtaining of adequate material for culture and pathological examination.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Presbyterian-University Hospital, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Onik
authors.forename: Y L
authors.initials: YL
authors.lastname: Shang
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Maroon
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Eichenblat
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Mercer
authors.forename: J E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Bailes
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001706:Biopsy / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D013166:Spondylitis / Q000382:microbiology / Q000473:pathology*; D013203:Staphylococcal Infections / Q000473:pathology*