title: CT-guided fine-needle aspiration biopsy of spinal lesions.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  A retrospective study of CT-guided fine-needle aspiration biopsies (FNABs) of spinal lesions performed over a period of 6 years was carried out with the aim of assessing the safety and efficacy of the procedure and to analyse the various approaches used.
  
  
  METHODS
  Ninety-three FNABs were performed in 87 patients, 4-70 years of age, under CT guidance. Lytic or mixed vertebral lesions with or without a paraspinal soft tissue component were included in the study. The approach depended on the anatomic region and part of the vertebra involved.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A definite cytological diagnosis was obtained in 77 patients (88.5%); of these, 47 patients had benign lesions and 30 patients had neoplasms. The most common pathologies encountered were tuberculosis (n=33) and metastases (n=17). There were 10 inconclusive FNABs; these showed blood only, necrotic material or scanty material insufficient for diagnosis. There were no procedure-related complications.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  CT-guided FNAB is a safe and effective technique for the evaluation of spinal lesions and is helpful in planning therapy. Choosing the appropriate approach results in a low complication rate.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiodiagnosis and Imaging, Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, Chandigarh, India.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kang
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Gupta
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Khandelwal
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Shankar
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Gulati
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Suri
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001707:Biopsy, Needle / Q000379:methods*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009362:Neoplasm Metastasis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013122:Spinal Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology*; D013125:Spinal Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology; D013131:Spine / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology*; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed