Percutaneous bone biopsy with a simple punch instrument. Indications, results and complications.

A simple punch instrument for percutaneous bone biopsy with a large needle, developed and used at this hospital since 1964, is described. An analysis of 235 punctures of unclear lesions in vertebrae and pelvis, performed by radiologists guided by fluoroscopy, was made with regard to indications, results and complications. Most of the patients had metastatic disease. An average accuracy of 79 per cent was found. It is concluded that closed bone biopsy, instead of indirect delaying diagnostic techniques or open biopsy, should be performed at an early stage in the examination of obscure bone lesions.