title: [Modified aspiration needle muscular biopsy in neuromuscular diseases. Use and advantages over open surgical biopsy].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate aspiration needle muscular biopsy as an alternative to surgical open biopsy, so we focus on its results and tolerance.
  
  
  METHODS
  We studied 150 patients with muscular pathology of every kind, and aged between 10 and 86 years, using a modified Allendale/Liverpool needle which by our indication has a built-in lateral funnel that provides faultless aspiration in 100% of cases. Percutaneous biopsy neuromuscular disorders study with modified aspiration Allendale needle: use and advantages over surgical biopsy.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The biopsy, which was very well tolerated by the patients, children in particular, left no scar and produced fine samples for standard, immunohistochemical, ultrastructural, biochemical and genetic investigation. In children beyond 10 years of age no general anesthetics was required and in many 4-10 years neither. A number of unsuspected cases of mitochondrial or inflammatory myopathy were detected. Patients with cramps or unclearly defined clinical picture did, however, show frequent morphological pathology. In just three cases samples were defective; all others produced changes of diagnostic or prognostic value with 8% without morphologically abnormal changes.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Modified aspiration needle biopsy is the choice method to study muscle. The samples are of excellent quality allowing for any kind of morphological, biochemical or genetic investigation. The procedure is routinely very well tolerated by patients so is very superior to open surgical biopsy, that we still use for infants in selected cases.
authors.affiliation: Servicio de Anatomía Patológica, Hospital General Universitario Gregorio Marañón, Madrid, Spain. emilio.salinero@madrid.org
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Salinero-Paniagua
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Esteban-García
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Traba
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Palencia-Herrejón
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Garzo-Fernández
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Prieto-Montalvo
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000758:Anesthesia; D001707:Biopsy, Needle / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods; D002648:Child; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery; D009339:Needles; D009468:Neuromuscular Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011379:Prognosis