title: Thoracoscopic biopsy of a pathological vertebral body.
abstract: When computed tomography (CT) guided biopsy of a pathological vertebral body fails, the accepted alternative has been open thoracotomy and biopsy. The authors wish to report the use of a thoracoscopic approach to biopsy of a pathological thoracic vertebra in a child, after an unsuccessful attempt at CT guided percutaneous biopsy.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Royal Children's Hospital, Parkville, Victoria, Australia.
authors.forename: H L
authors.initials: HL
authors.lastname: Tan
authors.forename: P J
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: McMurrick
authors.forename: T E
authors.initials: TE
authors.lastname: Merriman
authors.forename: I P
authors.initials: IP
authors.lastname: Torode
mesh_terms: D000208:Acute Disease; D001416:Back Pain / Q000209:etiology; D001706:Biopsy / Q000379:methods*; D015299:Discitis / Q000150:complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D010535:Laparoscopy / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D015641:Radiography, Interventional / Q000379:methods*; D013904:Thoracic Vertebrae; D013906:Thoracoscopy / Q000379:methods*; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed