JOURNAL CLUB: Utility of Repeat Core Needle Biopsy of Musculoskeletal Lesions With Initially Nondiagnostic Findings.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of the present study is to assess the utility of repeat image-guided core needle biopsy (CNB) of musculoskeletal lesions in the setting of initially nondiagnostic CNB findings. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A retrospective review was conducted of 1302 consecutive CNBs performed on bone or soft-tissue lesions at a single institution. Pediatric cases and spine lesions were not included. All cases for which a repeat biopsy of the same lesion was performed because biopsy results were nondiagnostic were included in the study. Tumor characteristics, such as lesion size and type (i.e., bone vs soft tissue), were correlated with the diagnostic yield on repeat biopsy. Technical factors, including the modality used, the number of passes performed, the gauge of the biopsy device, the time between biopsies, the radiologist performing the procedure, and the portion of the lesion biopsied, were also correlated. RESULTS: Twenty-six of the 1302 CNBs (2.0%) performed had been referred for repeat biopsy. A diagnosis was obtained for 10 of these 26 cases (38.5%) after repeat CNB. For five of the cases (19.2%), repeat CNB yielded a diagnosis of malignancy. Overall, 11 cases ultimately had histologic findings indicating malignancy, and five of these cases (45.4%) had diagnostic findings after rebiopsy. Of the 14 cases that were found to be benign, five (35.7%) had diagnostic findings after rebiopsy. One case was lost to follow-up. A statistically significant difference in the diagnostic yield was found in association with an increase in the number of passes (p = 0.047) and an increase in time (p = 0.020) between biopsies. CONCLUSION: Repeat CNB of musculoskeletal lesions with initially nondiagnostic biopsy findings can be useful. Increasing the number of passes on the second biopsy attempt is recommended.