Journal List > J Korean Soc Radiol > v.73(5) > 1087589

Sung and Kwon: Image-Guided Percutaneous Needle Biopsy for Infectious Spondylitis: Factors Affecting Culture Positivity

Abstract

Purpose

To evaluate the variable factors affecting the results of percutaneous needle biopsies for infectious spondylitis.

Materials and Methods

In all, 249 patients who underwent both MRI and percutaneous needle biopsies due to a suspicion of infectious spondylitis were evaluated with respect to the following factors: the usage of antibiotics before the procedure, the location of the biopsy, the guiding equipment used, the experience level of the operators, and the number of biopsies performed.

Results

The positivity of culture in cases of treated with antibiotics (16.3%) before the biopsy was lower than in the untreated cases (30.5%) (p = 0.004). Biopsies performed at the abscess (43.5%) and with fluoroscopic guidance (27.8%) showed higher culture positivity as well. The experience level of the operators and the number of biopsies had no effect on culture positivity.

Conclusion

The usage of antibiotics before the biopsy, the biopsy's location, and the guiding equipment used affect the culture positivity, while the experience levels of the operators and the number of biopsies do not have an effect.

Figures and Tables

Fig. 1

A 70-year-old man with back pain.

A. A sagittal T2-weighted MR image shows the loss of fatty marrow signal intensity and subchondral bone destruction at the T11 and T12 vertebral bodies. A burst fracture of the T12 vertebral body is also noted.
B. Contrast-enhanced T1-weighted image shows diffuse enhancement of the T11 and T12 vertebral bodies and phlegmon at the anterior epidural space of the T12 level.
C. A percutaneous biopsy was performed at the T12 vertebral body under fluoroscopic guidance. The isolated organism was Staphylococcus aureus.
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Fig. 2

A 68-year-old man with back pain.

A. The T2-weighted axial image shows an intraosseous abscess in the L4 vertebral body with an anterior epidural extension (arrowheads). There is also a direct extension into the left psoas muscle (arrow).
B. A percutaneous biopsy and aspiration were performed under CT guidance in the left psoas abscess. The isolated causative organism was Mycobacterium tuberculosis.
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Table 1

Multivariate Logistic Regression Results for Culture Results

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Culture Results p-Values
Positive (n = 62, 24.9%) Negative (n = 187, 75.1%)
Antibiotics before biopsy 0.004
 Used 16 (16.3%) 82 (83.7%)
 Not used 46 (30.5%) 105 (69.5%)
Biopsy sites < 0.001
 Abscess 20 (43.5%) 26 (56.5%)
 Disc 4 (30.8%) 9 (69.2%)
 Vertebral body 38 (20%) 152 (80%)
Guiding modality 0.005
 Fluoroscopy 44 (27.8%) 114 (72.2%)
 CT 18 (19.8%) 73 (80.2%)
Operator 0.537
 Staff 42 (25.6%) 122 (74.3%)
 Fellow 20 (23.5%) 65 (76.5%)
Number of approach
 One 21 (25.9%) 60 (74.1%) 0.730
 Two or more 41 (24.4%) 127 (75.6%)
Table 2

Comparison of Biopsy Tissue Culture and Blood Culture (p-Value = 0.629)

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Biopsy Culture Sum
Positive Negative
Blood culture
 Positive 5 21 26 (13.2%)
 Negative 45 126 171 (86.8%)
Sum 50 (25.4%) 147 (74.6%) 197

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