title: Safety and yield of muscle biopsy in pediatric patients in the modern era.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Muscle and skin biopsies are commonly used diagnostic procedures in the evaluation of pediatric neuromuscular and genetic disorders. However, few modern reports have documented their diagnostic yield and clinical utility. We reviewed our experience at a tertiary care center.
  
  
  METHODS
  We retrospectively studied consecutive pediatric patients who underwent muscle biopsy at our institution between January 2008 and April 2012.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of 169 patients, 97 (57%) were male, and the median (range) age was 7years (9days to 18years). In 101 patients (60%), a pathologic diagnosis was made. Histologic results of biopsy were completely normal in 45 patients (27%). Minimal abnormalities not sufficient to make a definitive pathologic diagnosis were reported in 23 patients (14%). Sensitivity and specificity of preoperative electromyography in detecting muscle pathology were 58% and 56%, respectively. No complications occurred from the use of general anesthesia. The only complication was a right femoral vein laceration when the right vastus medialis muscle was chosen as a biopsy site.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Muscle biopsy in children is safe and useful in establishing the best management plan for patients with suspected neuromuscular disorders. This finding contradicts those of previous studies.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota.
authors.forename: Waleed O
authors.initials: WO
authors.lastname: Gibreel
authors.affiliation: Division of Child and Adolescent Neurology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota.
authors.forename: Duygu
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Selcen
authors.affiliation: Division of Pediatric Surgery, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota.
authors.forename: Moiz M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Zeidan
authors.affiliation: Division of Pediatric Surgery, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota.
authors.forename: Michael B
authors.initials: MB
authors.lastname: Ishitani
authors.affiliation: Division of Pediatric Surgery, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota; Division of Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota.
authors.forename: Christopher R
authors.initials: CR
authors.lastname: Moir
authors.affiliation: Division of Pediatric Surgery, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota. Electronic address: zarroug.abdalla@mayo.edu.
authors.forename: Abdalla E
authors.initials: AE
authors.lastname: Zarroug
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D001706:Biopsy / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000379:methods; D002648:Child; D004576:Electromyography; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000473:pathology*; D009468:Neuromuscular Diseases / Q000473:pathology; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity
keywords: Electromyography; Muscle biopsy; Skin biopsy