Abstract

Bone tumors, both benign and malignant, require accurate diagnostic methods to guide treatment decisions. Percutaneous needle biopsy (PNB) has emerged as an effective, minimally invasive procedure for diagnosing bone lesions. This study aims to evaluate the role of PNB in diagnosing bone tumors, focusing on its accuracy in distinguishing between benign and malignant lesions. A systematic review and meta-analysis of studies published between 2000 and 2023 were conducted. Studies that reported on the diagnostic performance of PNB in bone tumors were included. Key outcome measures, such as sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value (PPV), and negative predictive value (NPV), were pooled to assess the diagnostic accuracy of PNB for both benign and malignant bone tumors. A total of 25 studies, including over 1,500 patients, were analyzed. The pooled sensitivity of PNB for bone tumors was 88% (95% CI: 84%- 92%), and specificity was 92% (95% CI: 89%-95%). Subgroup analysis showed slightly higher diagnostic accuracy for benign tumors (sensitivity 91%, specificity 89%) compared to malignant tumors (sensitivity 85%, specificity 93%). Core needle biopsy (CNB) demonstrated slightly higher diagnostic accuracy compared to fine needle aspiration (FNA).

Keywords: