The importance of the open surgical biopsy in the diagnosis and treatment of bone and soft-tissue tumors.

To obtain the maximal diagnostic benefit from a pretreatment biopsy, an adequate amount of tissue should be removed. An open surgical biopsy eminently qualifies for such a diagnostic technique because a careful histologic examination of the bone or soft-tissue tumor is of particular importance for proper treatment. An open biopsy yields the exact diagnosis in most instances.