Closed biopsy of the spine using a stereotactic biopsy forceps. Technical note.

A new technique for closed biopsy of the spine is presented. Using a stereotactic biopsy forceps, which is advanced to the lesion through a protective puncture cannula, sufficient samples from different sites of the lesion can be obtained. Biopsy was performed in seven patients harbouring osteolytic and osteoplastic lesions of the cervical (3 cases), thoracic (3 cases) and lumbar spine (1 case). Histological diagnosis was possible in five patients. In all of them, metastatic disease was found. In our opinion, using this device closed biopsy of the spine is a simple and efficient method for obtaining sufficient material at different levels of the spine and at different sites within a lesion. We recommend its use when the therapeutic consequences--surgical tumour removal with stabilization, stabilization alone or radiation therapy--is contingent on the histopathological diagnosis.