Needle biopsy is an established technique for the histological diagnosis of bone tumours, usually guided by fluoroscopy or CT. Surface lesions and aggressive tumours which have extended through the cortex are also amenable to imaging with ultrasound (US). We have assessed the diagnostic accuracy of US-guided Trucut needle biopsy in a consecutive series of patients referred to a Bone Tumour Unit with suspected primary bone tumours. Of 144 patients (83 men, 61 women; mean age 34.7 years) referred over a period of two years, 63 were considered suitable for US-guided biopsy. This was based on the presence of a relatively large extraosseous component, seen typically in osteosarcoma and malignant round-cell tumours. The results of needle biopsy were compared with those of surgical biopsy. The diagnostic accuracy was 98.4%, with only a single failed biopsy.

Thus, in a selected group of patients, US is a very reliable technique of guidance for percutaneous needle biopsy of bone tumours.