Percutaneous needle biopsy of musculoskeletal lesions. 2. Cost-effectiveness

Document Type

Article

Publication Title

American Journal of Roentgenology

ISSN

0361-803X

Volume

158

Issue

4

DOI

10.2214/ajr.158.4.1546598

First Page

813

Last Page

818

Publication Date

January 1992

Abstract

We compared the cost-effectiveness of fluoroscopically directed percutaneous needle biopsy (PNB) of musculoskeletal lesions, CT-guided PNB, and open biopsy. We independently assessed the following characteristics: suspected lesion type (metastatic deposit, infection, or primary neoplasm, as determined by clinical findings and radiologic appearance before biopsy); lesion location (axial or appendicular); and appearance on plain films (radiolucent or lytic, sclerotic, vertebral compression fracture, and soft-tissue lesions). In suspected primary tumors, cost-effectiveness of PNB was similar to that of open biopsy: fluoroscopically directed PNB was slightly more cost-effective than open biopsy whereas CT-directed PNB was slightly less cost-effective. Either type of PNB was cost-effective for suspected metastatic deposits and infections, axial and appendicular lesions, radiolucent or lytic lesions, and soft-tissue lesions. We conclude that PNB is cost-effective for most musculoskeletal lesions.

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