Image-Guided Surgical Biopsies Replace Exploratory Surgery
Only a few years ago, patients with suspected cancerous tumors had only one choice to find out for sure whether the tumor was truly cancerous. They had to undergo exploratory surgery – with long hospital stays and recuperation time. Thanks to medical imaging, that has largely changed.
Image-Guided Percutaneous Biopsy vs.
Open Surgical Biopsy
in Diagnosis of Primary Bone Tumors |
| |
IMAGE-GUIDED
BONE BIOPSY |
OPEN SURGICAL BIOPSY |
| Procedure Time |
<1 hour |
> 1 hour |
| Complication Risk |
1% |
2-20% |
| Treatment Start After Procedure |
1 day |
10-21 days |
| Location |
Outpatient |
Inpatient |
| Incision/Scar |
None |
2-5 inches |
| Wound Healing |
Prompt |
Delayed |
| Accuracy |
High |
High |
|
Source: "Diagnosis of Primary Bone Tumors with Image-Guided Percutaneous Biopsy: Experience with 110 Tumors," Jelinek et al., Radiology, June 2002, and "Image-Guided Bone Biopsy: Faster, Easier, Safer," RSNA, May 28, 2002. |
- Minimally invasive procedures that are guided by fluoroscopy, CT, ultrasound and MRI imaging have virtually replaced open surgical biopsy for tumors of the chest, abdomen, pelvis, and bone.1 These image-based procedures are anywhere from three to seven times more cost-effective than surgical biopsies. Click here to view the study
- A 2002 study in Radiology found that image-guided percutaneous biopsy of bone tumors is safe and accurate, but also that it represents important savings and efficiencies for patients and employers (see table).2 Among them: shorter procedure time, fewer infections, easier wound healing, and earlier start for treatment when cancer is found. "With a definitive diagnosis,…therapy can be started the day after core-needle biopsy. After a surgical approach, a delay of 10 days to 3 weeks is required to allow wound healing and prevention of infection and bleeding."3
1 "Diagnosis of Primary Bone Tumors with Image-Guided Percutaneous Biopsy: Experience with 110 Tumors," by Jelinek JS, Murphey MD, Welker JA, Henshaw RM, Kransdorf MJ, Shmookler BM, Malawer MM, Radiology 2002; 223; 731-737.
2 Ibid.
3 Ibid., p. 735
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