Diagnosis of Obscure Lesions of the Skeleton

doi:10.1001/jama.1967.03130040025008

JAMA. 1967;201(4):229-231. doi: 10.1001/jama.1967.03130040025008

Diagnosis of Obscure Lesions of the Skeleton

Evaluation of Biopsy Methods

Donald C. Stahl, MD;
Bernard Jacobs, MD

From the Orthopedic Services of the Bronx (NY) Veterans Administration Hospital and the Hospital for Special Surgery, Cornell University Medical Center, New York.

Abstract

A study was made of 85 patients with obscure lesions of the skeleton admitted to the Orthopedic Service of the Bronx Veterans Administration Hospital and the Hospital for Special Surgery. A wide spectrum of lesions were diagnosed, including malignant neoplasms in 66% of the patients. The relative merits and success rates of open and closed biopsy were compared. Although a higher percentage of satisfactory results was obtained with open biopsy (88%) than with closed biopsy (62%), the advantages associated with closed biopsy warrant its use in most instances.