Diagnostic Accuracy and Adequacy of Computed Tomography Versus Fluoroscopy-Guided Percutaneous Transpedicular Biopsy of Spinal Lesions

Background

Transpedicular biopsy of spinal lesions is imperative for the generation of a definite diagnosis. Thus far, literature comparing the accuracy and adequacy between fluoroscopy-guided and computed tomography (CT)-guided transpedicular biopsy of spinal lesions is scarce. We aim to compare the accuracy and adequacy of samples collected with the two techniques at the largest tertiary hospital in Malaysia.

Materials and methods

A total of 60 patients (37 patients with spinal infection and 23 patients with spinal tumour) underwent percutaneous transpedicular biopsy of spinal lesions from January 2013 to December 2017 at a tertiary centre. Demographic data, biopsy method (fluoroscopy-guided and CT-guided), diagnosis, adequacy, and accuracy of samples obtained were assessed.

Results

Among the 60 samples obtained, only two samples (3.3%) were deemed inadequate. There were 10 biopsy samples (16.7%) that were inaccurate. There was no statistical difference between fluoroscopy-guided and CT-guided transpedicular biopsy in terms of accuracy (p = 0.731) and adequacy (p = 0.492).

Conclusions

Fluoroscopy-guided and CT-guided transpedicular biopsy of spinal lesions offer similar accuracy and adequacy. Fluoroscopy-guided biopsy of the spinal lesion will be an option for spine surgeons when CT-guided biopsy is not available.

Diagnostic yield, accuracy, and complication rate of CT-guided biopsy for spinal lesions: a systematic review and meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

CT-guided biopsy is a commonly used diagnostic procedure for spinal lesions. This meta-analysis aims to investigate its diagnostic performance and complications, as well as factors influencing outcomes.

METHODS

A systematic review of the literature was performed to identify studies reporting outcomes of CT-guided biopsies for spinal lesions. Diagnostic yield (ie, the rate of procedures resulting in a specific pathological diagnosis) and diagnostic accuracy (ie, the rate of procedures resulting in the correct diagnosis) were the primary outcomes of interest. Complications following biopsy procedures were also included.

RESULTS

Thirty-nine studies with 3917 patients undergoing 4181 procedures were included. Diagnostic yield per procedure was 91% (95% CI 88% to 94%) among 3598 procedures. The most common reason for non-diagnostic biopsies was inadequacy of sample. No difference in diagnostic yield between different locations and between lytic, sclerotic, and mixed lesions was found. Diagnostic yield did not differ between procedures using ≤13G and ≥14G needles. Diagnostic accuracy per procedure was 86% (95% CI 82% to 89%) among 3054 procedures. Diagnostic accuracy among 2426 procedures that yielded a diagnosis was 94% (95% CI 92% to 96%). Complication rate was 1% (95% CI 0.4% to 1.9%) among 3357 procedures. Transient pain and minor hematoma were the most common complications encountered.

CONCLUSION

In our meta-analysis of 39 studies reporting diagnostic performance and complications of CT-guided biopsy, we found a diagnostic yield of 91% and diagnostic accuracy of 86% with a complication rate of 1%. Diagnostic yield did not differ between different locations, between lytic, sclerotic and mixed lesions, and between wide- and thin-bore needles.

Clinical-radiomics nomograms for pre-operative differentiation of sacral chordoma and sacral giant cell tumor based on 3D computed tomography and multiparametric magnetic resonance imaging

OBJECTIVE

To develop and validate clinical-radiomics nomograms based on three-dimensional CT and multiparametric MRI (mpMRI) for pre-operative differentiation of sacral chordoma (SC) and sacral giant cell tumor (SGCT).

METHODS

A total of 83 SC and 54 SGCT patients diagnosed through surgical pathology were retrospectively analyzed. We built six models based on CT, CT enhancement (CTE), T₁ weighted, T₂ weighted, diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI), and contrast-enhanced T₁ weighted features, two radiomics nomograms and two clinical-radiomics nomograms combined radiomics mixed features with clinical data. The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) and accuracy (ACC) analysis were used to assess the performance of the models.

RESULTS

SC and SGCT presented significant differences in terms of age, sex, and tumor location (t_age = 9.00, χ²_sex = 10.86, χ²_location = 26.20; p < 0.01). For individual scan, the radiomics model based on diffusion-weighted imaging features yielded the highest AUC of 0.889 and ACC of 0.885, followed by CT (AUC = 0.857; ACC = 0.846) and CT enhancement (AUC = 0.833; ACC = 0.769). For the combined features, the radiomics model based on mixed CT features exhibited a better AUC of 0.942 and ACC of 0.880, whereas mixed MRI features achieved a lower performance than the individual scan. The clinical-radiomics nomogram based on combined CT features achieved the highest AUC of 0.948 and ACC of 0.920.

CONCLUSIONS

The radiomics model based on CT and multiparametricMRI present a certain predictive value in distinguishing SC and SGCT, which can be used for auxiliary diagnosis before operation. The clinical-radiomics nomograms performed better than radiomics nomograms.

ADVANCES IN KNOWLEDGE

Clinical-radiomics nomograms based on CT and mpMRI features can be used for preoperative differentiation of SC and SGCT.