Connie Y Chang1, Ambrose J Huang2, Miriam A Bredella3, Martin Torriani4, Elkan F Halpern5, Daniel I Rosenthal6, Dempsey S Springfield7. 1. Division of Musculoskeletal Imaging and Intervention, Department of Radiology, Massachusetts General Hospital, 55 Fruit Street Yawkey 6E, Boston, MA, 02114, USA. cychang@mgh.harvard.edu. 2. Division of Musculoskeletal Imaging and Intervention, Department of Radiology, Massachusetts General Hospital, 55 Fruit Street Yawkey 6E, Boston, MA, 02114, USA. ajhuang@mgh.harvard.edu. 3. Division of Musculoskeletal Imaging and Intervention, Department of Radiology, Massachusetts General Hospital, 55 Fruit Street Yawkey 6E, Boston, MA, 02114, USA. mbredella@mgh.harvard.edu. 4. Division of Musculoskeletal Imaging and Intervention, Department of Radiology, Massachusetts General Hospital, 55 Fruit Street Yawkey 6E, Boston, MA, 02114, USA. mtorriani@mgh.harvard.edu. 5. Institute for Technology Assessment, Department of Radiology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA. elk@ita-mgh.org. 6. Division of Musculoskeletal Imaging and Intervention, Department of Radiology, Massachusetts General Hospital, 55 Fruit Street Yawkey 6E, Boston, MA, 02114, USA. dirosenthal@mgh.harvard.edu. 7. Department of Orthopedics, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA. dsprin1927@gmail.com.
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: To study non-diagnostic CT-guided musculoskeletal biopsies and take steps to minimize them. Specifically we asked: (1) What malignant diagnoses have a higher non-diagnostic rate? (2) What factors of a non-diagnostic biopsy may warrant more aggressive pursuit? (3) Do intra-procedural frozen pathology (FP) or point-of-care (POC) cytology reduce the non-diagnostic biopsy rate? MATERIALS AND METHODS: This study was IRB-approved and HIPAA-compliant. We retrospectively reviewed 963 consecutive CT-guided musculoskeletal biopsies. We categorized pathology results as malignant, benign, or non-diagnostic and recorded use of FP or POC cytology. Initial biopsy indication, final diagnosis, method of obtaining the final diagnosis of non-diagnostic biopsies, age of the patient, and years of biopsy attending experience were recorded. Groups were compared using Pearson's χ(2) test or Fisher's exact test. RESULTS: In all, 140 of 963 (15%) biopsies were non-diagnostic. Lymphoma resulted in more non-diagnostic biopsies (P < 0.0001). While 67% of non-diagnostic biopsies yielded benign diagnoses, 33% yielded malignant diagnoses. Patients whose percutaneous biopsy was indicated due to the clinical context without malignancy history almost always generated benign results (96%). Whereas 56% of biopsies whose indication was an imaging finding of a treatable lesion were malignant, 20% of biopsies whose indication was a history of malignancy were malignant. There was no statistically significant difference in the nondiagnostic biopsy rates of pediatric versus adult patients (P = 0.8) and of biopsy attendings with fewer versus more years of experience (P = 0.5). The non-diagnostic rates of biopsies with FP (8%), POC cytology (25%), or neither (24%) were significantly different (P < 0.0001). CONCLUSION: Lymphoma is the malignant diagnosis most likely to result in a non-diagnostic biopsy. If the clinical and radiologic suspicion for malignancy is high, repeat biopsy is warranted. If the clinical context suggests a benign lesion, a non-diagnostic biopsy may be considered reassuring. Frozen pathology may decrease the non-diagnostic biopsy rate.
OBJECTIVE: To study non-diagnostic CT-guided musculoskeletal biopsies and take steps to minimize them. Specifically we asked: (1) What malignant diagnoses have a higher non-diagnostic rate? (2) What factors of a non-diagnostic biopsy may warrant more aggressive pursuit? (3) Do intra-procedural frozen pathology (FP) or point-of-care (POC) cytology reduce the non-diagnostic biopsy rate? MATERIALS AND METHODS: This study was IRB-approved and HIPAA-compliant. We retrospectively reviewed 963 consecutive CT-guided musculoskeletal biopsies. We categorized pathology results as malignant, benign, or non-diagnostic and recorded use of FP or POC cytology. Initial biopsy indication, final diagnosis, method of obtaining the final diagnosis of non-diagnostic biopsies, age of the patient, and years of biopsy attending experience were recorded. Groups were compared using Pearson's χ(2) test or Fisher's exact test. RESULTS: In all, 140 of 963 (15%) biopsies were non-diagnostic. Lymphoma resulted in more non-diagnostic biopsies (P < 0.0001). While 67% of non-diagnostic biopsies yielded benign diagnoses, 33% yielded malignant diagnoses. Patients whose percutaneous biopsy was indicated due to the clinical context without malignancy history almost always generated benign results (96%). Whereas 56% of biopsies whose indication was an imaging finding of a treatable lesion were malignant, 20% of biopsies whose indication was a history of malignancy were malignant. There was no statistically significant difference in the nondiagnostic biopsy rates of pediatric versus adult patients (P = 0.8) and of biopsy attendings with fewer versus more years of experience (P = 0.5). The non-diagnostic rates of biopsies with FP (8%), POC cytology (25%), or neither (24%) were significantly different (P < 0.0001). CONCLUSION:Lymphoma is the malignant diagnosis most likely to result in a non-diagnostic biopsy. If the clinical and radiologic suspicion for malignancy is high, repeat biopsy is warranted. If the clinical context suggests a benign lesion, a non-diagnostic biopsy may be considered reassuring. Frozen pathology may decrease the non-diagnostic biopsy rate.
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