Accuracy of the analysis of multiple small fragments of glial tumors obtained by stereotactic biopsy
Cappabianca, P.; Spaziante, R.; Caputi, F.; Pettinato, G.; Del Basso De Caro, M.; Carrabs, G.; de Divitiis, E.
Acta Cytologica 35(5): 505-511
1991
ISSN/ISBN: 0001-5547 PMID: 1656683 Document Number: 372076
To examine the reliability of the diagnoses reached on multiple small fragments of cerebral glial tumors obtained via stereotactic biopsy, samples obtained from 100 consecutive glial tumors (during real or stimulated biopsy) were studied by cytology and histology. In comparison to the definitive diagnosis made on the whole tumor, a correct positive diagnosis on the biopsy sample was made by histology in 96% of cases and by cytology in 93% of the cases (with 96% correct results when combining both methods). A correct identification of the tumor type and grade was achieved by histology in 82% of cases and by cytology in 80% of the cases (with 85% correct results when combining both methods). The limits of stereotactic biopsy was related to the difficulty of identifying all of the typical tumor features on tiny tissue fragments of a pleomorphic neoplasm, such as a glioma. This study demonstrates that better results may be obtained by using both cytology and histology to study multiple stereotactic biopsy samples from glial tumors.