title: Fine-needle aspiration biopsy of vertebral body lesions: cytologic, pathologic, and clinical correlations of 57 cases.
abstract: We reviewed 57 cases of fine-needle aspiration biopsy (FNAB) specimens of vertebral body lesions at our institutions and sought correlations between clinical histories, aspirates, and tissue specimens. Patients' ages ranged from 10-86 yr (mean 62 yr). Previous clinical histories included malignancy (n = 33), osteomyelitis or systemic infection (n = 18), and nonspecific (n = 6). FNAB diagnoses were rendered in 81% of cases (n = 46) and were correlated with previous clinical history (P < 0.004). Tissue diagnoses were also correlated with previous clinical history (P < 0.02). In 19% of cases (n = 11), FNAB was unsatisfactory; of these, tissue specimens were diagnostic for five cases. In 19% of cases (n = 11), both aspirates and tissue specimens were available, and the diagnoses coincided in all cases; tissue specimens did not enhance the results of aspirates which produced positive results. Aspirates which showed normal bone marrow elements appeared to effectively rule-out metastatic malignancy based on clinical follow-up (mean 3.7 yr).
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, Loyola University Medical Center, Maywood, IL 60153.
authors.forename: H J
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Carson
authors.forename: M J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Castelli
authors.forename: C V
authors.initials: CV
authors.lastname: Reyes
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Gattuso
mesh_terms: D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000473:pathology / Q000556:secondary; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001707:Biopsy, Needle; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010019:Osteomyelitis / Q000473:pathology; D013122:Spinal Diseases / Q000473:pathology*; D013125:Spinal Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology / Q000556:secondary