Compartmental anatomy: relevance to staging and biopsy of musculoskeletal tumors.

A thorough understanding of compartmental anatomy is essential for accurate staging of a suspected musculoskeletal tumor with MR imaging and for avoiding potentially devastating biopsy-related complications. Imaging-guided, percutaneous needle biopsy is a safe and cost-effective technique but requires careful planning in conjunction with the surgeon who will perform the definitive surgery because it constitutes the final step in the staging process and the first step in surgical therapy.