Computed Tomography-Guided Fine Needle Biopsies of Vertebral and Paravertebral Lesions in Small Animals

Abstract

Fine needle biopsy (FNB) is an effective, minimally invasive and inexpensive diagnostic technique. Under computed tomography (CT)-guidance, lesions that have a difficult approach can be sampled to reach a diagnosis. The aim of this study is to describe the use of CT-guidance to obtain FNB from vertebral and paravertebral lesions in small animals. Ten dogs and one ferret that had undergone CT-guided FNB of vertebral and paravertebral lesions and had a cytological or a histological diagnosis were included in this retrospective study. The FNB samples were taken in four cases from the vertebra, in two cases from the intervertebral disc and in five cases from the intervertebral foramen. Two infectious and nine neoplastic lesions were diagnosed. The percentage of successful FNB was 91%. The percentage of samples with a cytological diagnosis was 80%. The percentage of complications was 9%. Limitations were the small number of animals in the study, the lacking complementary percutaneous biopsies for comparison, the lacking final histological diagnoses in some cases and the intervention of multiple operators. Computed tomography-guided FNB is a useful and safe technique for the diagnosis of vertebral and paravertebral lesions in small animals. However, a degree of expertise is important.

Clinical features, comparative imaging findings, treatment, and outcome in dogs with discospondylitis: A multi‐institutional retrospective study

“…Although an open surgical approach provides a superior visual field of the affected disc and facilitates collection of a sizeable sample for culture and biopsy, associated risks include those associated with prolonged general anesthesia, hemorrhage, vertebral destabilization, and postoperative neurological worsening. Potential complications of percutaneous sampling of the intervertebral disc include inadvertent damage to the spinal cord, spinal nerves, or large vessels, worsening pain, progression of neurological deficits, and seeding of bacteria from the disc into the epidural space, subarachnoid space or both, however, these complications are reported to be rare in the currently available literature 19,20 . One aim of our study was to determine whether geographical differences existed with regard to infectious disease positivity.…”

“…18 Intervertebral disc cultures were performed in 63 of 386 ( 16 space or both, however, these complications are reported to be rare in the currently available literature. 19,20 One aim of our study was to determine whether geographical differences existed with regard to infectious disease positivity. Our study found no significant differences in culture results between institutions, although this could have been affected by sample sizes that could be too low to allow for some comparisons.…”

“…Potential complications of percutaneous sampling of the intervertebral disc include inadvertent damage to the spinal cord, spinal nerves, or large vessels, worsening pain, progression of neurological deficits, and seeding of bacteria from the disc into the epidural space, subarachnoid space or both, however, these complications are reported to be rare in the currently available literature. 19 , 20 One aim of our study was to determine whether geographical differences existed with regard to infectious disease positivity. Our study found no significant differences in culture results between institutions, although this could have been affected by sample sizes that could be too low to allow for some comparisons.…”

Case report: MRI and CT imaging features of a melanocytic tumour affecting a cervical vertebra in an adult dog, and review of differential diagnosis for T1W-hyperintense lesions

“…The T2W intensity in our case, suggested a melanin-containing lesion, which was considered more likely as it usually appears hypointense on these sequences ( 16 ). Despite the accuracy that may be achieved via evaluating all imaging sequences and diagnostic methods, histopathology remains the gold standard technique ( 17 , 18 ). In this case report, the histopathological analysis and the positive result for Melan-A immunohistochemistry confirmed the presence of a melanocytic neoplasm.…”