Percutaneous CT-guided core biopsy for diseases of the musculoskeletal system in 42 patients

Objective To investigate the technical skills of percutaneous CT-guided core biopsy for diseases of the musculoskeletal system.Method The data on 42 patients with musculoskeletal diseases who had received percutaneous CT-guided core biopsy from June 2006 to November 2007 were retrospectively analyzed.Results A confirmed pathological diagnosis was obtained by the biopsy in 36 of 42(85.7%) patients.15 were diagnosed as benign lesions while 21 were confirmed as malignancy.19 of the 36 patients received surgery.The coincidence of the pathological diagnosis by core biopsy to that by excisional biopsy was 94.7%.Pathological diagnosis could not be confirmed by core biopsy in 3 patients due to deficiency of the tissue sample and a failure of core biopsy occurred in 3 patients.No severe complications occurred.Conclusions Percutaneous CT-guided core biopsy for musculoskeletal diseases is accurate and minimally invasive and has fewer complications.The success rate of the biopsy will be enhanced when samples are obtained separately from abnormal osseous tissues and periosseous soft tissues using different biopsy instruments.