Fine needle aspiration biopsy in the evaluation of tumor-like lesions of bone.

A consecutive series of bone lesions suspected to be tumors and examined by fine needle aspiration biopsy at the University Hospital Cytology Laboratory in Lund, Sweden, is reported. From 1966 to November 1974, 150 cases were examined. In 123, sufficient cellular material was obtained through aspiration by a needle with an outer diameter of 0.8 mm. The method is described. The reliability of cytology is compared with the results of the definite pathology after open biopsy or extirpation of the lesion. In the series of primary benign lesions 28 out of 39 were correctly diagnosed; among primary malignant 27 out of 38 were correct and among metastases 57 out of 73 were correctly diagnosed including those where insufficient cellular material was aspirated. In cases where sufficient material was achieved the reliability of the cytological diagnosis was around 90 per cent. There was one false positive and two false negative reports of malignancy. Fine needle aspiration biopsy with cytology is recommended as a standard step in orthopedic oncological examinations. It has at least the same degree of diagnostic reliability as other diagnostic methods, such as X-ray, for instance; however, it does not replace open biopsy and histology when mutilating surgery is in question.