Radiology, Vol 148, 69-72, Copyright © 1983 by Radiological Society of North America
Percutaneous bone biopsy: the importance of aspirated osseous blood
RC Hewes, VJ Vigorita and RH Freiberger
The diagnostic value of the microscopic examination of bone core specimen
versus osseous blood, obtained by 110 percutaneous biopsies performed on
100 patients, was evaluated. A diagnosis of malignancy was made by biopsy
in 54 cases. In 52 cases in which osseous blood (clot and smears) was
available for examination, a positive diagnosis for malignancy was made
microscopically in 49 (94%). In 46 cases in which bone cores were studied
separately, a microscopic diagnosis of malignancy was made from the bone
core in 39 (85%). If osseous blood had not been available for examination
only 39 (72%) of the 54 biopsies would have been positive for malignancy;
the other 14 biopsies would have been classified as either negative or
insufficient for diagnosis. In those biopsies where both bone cores and
osseous blood were available, the osseous blood showed better malignant
tissue morphology and was considered better diagnostic material in 19
cases, whereas bone cores were considered better diagnostic material in
only three cases. Osseous blood, which is usually easily available in bone
biopsies, is valuable diagnostic material; it should be treated as a tissue
specimen and not discarded.
