Biopsy Principles
Safe biopsy techniques are essential to prevent tumour spread and avoid compromising future surgery.
A biopsy is a critical step in diagnosing musculoskeletal tumours and must be carefully planned:
Always perform after imaging to avoid artefact and misdiagnosis.
Performed by the surgeon or in consultation with the surgical team who will do the definitive surgery.
Prefer longitudinal incisions along planned resection paths.
Avoid contaminating multiple tissue planes or neurovascular bundles.
Needle (core) biopsy is preferred in most cases due to lower morbidity and comparable diagnostic yield.
Open biopsy is reserved for cases with inadequate needle sampling.
Biopsy tract must be resected en bloc during definitive tumour surgery.Poorly performed biopsies may upstage the disease or preclude limb salvage.
