Percutaneous computed-tomography-guided biopsy of the spine: 229 procedures.
OBJECTIVE
Percutaneous biopsy of the spine is an effective and well-evaluated procedure. Only very few series containing more than a hundred patients have been reported so far and there is no agreement about the factors affecting the diagnostic rate. We aimed to find out if there is any factor influencing the success rate of the spinal biopsy using our biopsy series.


METHODS
Two hundred and twenty-nine procedures were performed in 201 patients between November 2001 and August 2005. All procedures were performed under computed tomography guidance. The side was chosen according to the extension of the lesion. When the lesion was in the midline or extended to both sides, we preferred to obtain biopsy from the right side. The puncture point and the needle trajectory were planned on both lateral computed tomography scout scan and axial scans.


RESULTS
We found that the diagnostic rate was not affected by the variables such as age, gender, type and diameter of the biopsy needle, diagnosis as well as lesion localization and level. The success rate of the repeat biopsies was considerably lower than the first procedures.


CONCLUSIONS
The diagnostic rate is not affected by any of the variables but the approach, chosen can vary with the level, localization, and lesion characteristics.
Sucu
Hasan Kamil
HK
Department of Neurosurgery, Atatürk Training and Research Hospital, Izmir, Turkey. hsucu@yahoo.com
Ciçek
Canan
C
Rezanko
Türkan
T
Bezircioğlu
Hamdi
H
Erşahin
Yusuf
Y
Tunakan
Mine
M
Minoğlu
Mustafa
M