OBJECTIVE: To compare cytology and histology on the diagnosis of musculoskeletal neoplasms. METHOD: Fifty eight cases available to evaluation were analyzed both by cytology and histology. The results of the biopsies studied by histology and cytology were compared to the results obtained on the surgical specimen or immunohistochemistry. We determined the percentage of correct results, sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive values and accuracy of each method. RESULTS: Twelve per cent of biopsies were inconclusive by cytology. The percentage of correct diagnosis was 70.7% and 81% (p=.179), the ability to differentiate benign lesions from malignant ones was 84.5% and 93.1% (p=0.18) respectively, for cytology and histology. Cytology showed sensitivity of 87.8%, specificity of 76.5%, positive predictive value of 90%, negative predictive value of 72% and accuracy 84.5%. Histology showed sensitivity of 90.2%, specificity of 100%, positive predictive value of 100%, negative predictive value of 81% and accuracy of 93.1%. The Youden index for cytology was 64.3% and for histology it was 90.2%. CONCLUSION: Despite promising, cytology obtained by thin needle aspiration is less accurate and reliable than the histological evaluation on musculoskeletal tumors diagnosis. Level of Evidence II, Diagnostic Studies.

To identify, through a systematic literature review, the characteristics of neoplasm seeding in biopsy performed on the musculoskeletal system. We performed a search on PubMed, MEDLINE, LILACS and SciELO from August to October 2010. We included articles that addressed the neoplasm seeding in biopsy performed on the musculoskeletal system. The search was limited to English, Spanish and Portuguese as publication languages, but it was not limited by year of publication. We retrieved 2858 articles, but only seven were selected based on inclusion and exclusion criteria. Other four papers were found in the references of selected articles, totalizing 11 articles that were used to perform this systematic review. Issues may be raised in the literature: age and gender don't seem to influence the occurrence of neoplasm seeding; without resection of the biopsy tract, the possibility of local recurrence is very real; the influence of the type of tumor in the occurrence of neoplasm seeding is uncertain; it is impossible to conclude whether the closed biopsy technique has a lower chance of neoplasm seeding; it is likely that adjuvant chemotherapy has a protective effect against neoplasm seeding; an unfavorable prognosis is expected according to neoplasm seeding results.

OBJETIVO: Estudar os fatores possivelmente associados à contaminação tumoral do trajeto de biópsia de tumores ósseos malignos primários. MÉTODO: Foram estudados, retrospectivamente, 35 pacientes submetidos a tratamento cirúrgico com diagnóstico de osteossarcoma, tumor de Ewing e condrossarcoma. A amostra foi analisada para caracterização quanto à técnica de biópsia empregada, tipo histológico do tumor, realização de quimioterapia neoadjuvante, ocorrência de recidiva local e contaminação tumoral no trajeto da biópsia. RESULTADOS: Nos 35 pacientes avaliados ocorreram quatro contaminações (11,43%). Um caso era de osteossarcoma, dois casos de tumor de Ewing e um caso de condrossarcoma, não se observando associação entre o tipo de tumor e a presença de contaminação tumoral no trajeto da biópsia (p = 0,65). Também não se observou associação entre a presença de contaminação tumoral e a técnica de biópsia (p = 0,06). Por outro lado, observou-se associação entre a presença de contaminação tumoral e a ocorrência de recidiva local (p = 0,01) e entre a presença de contaminação e a não realização de quimioterapia neoadjuvante (p = 0,02). CONCLUSÃO: A contaminação tumoral no trajeto de biópsia de tumores ósseos malignos primários esteve associada à ocorrência de recidiva local. Por outro lado, não mostrou ser influenciada pelo tipo de biópsia realizada e pelo tipo histológico de tumor estudado. A quimioterapia neoadjuvante mostrou um efeito protetor contra esta complicação. A despeito desses achados, a contaminação tumoral é uma complicação que deve sempre ser considerada, sendo recomendada a remoção do trajeto da biópsia na cirurgia de ressecção do tumor.

OBJECTIVE: To study factors possibly associated with tumor contamination in the biopsy path of primary malignant bone tumors. METHOD: Thirty-five patients who underwent surgical treatment with diagnoses of osteosarcoma, Ewing's tumor and chondrosarcoma were studied retrospectively. The sample was analyzed to characterize the biopsy technique used, histological type of the tumor, neoadjuvant chemotherapy used, local recurrences and tumor contamination in the biopsy path. RESULTS: Among the 35 patients studied, four cases of contamination occurred (11.43%): one from osteosarcoma, two from Ewing's tumor and one from chondrosarcoma. There was no association between the type of tumor and presence of tumor contamination in the biopsy path (p = 0.65). There was also no association between the presence of tumor contamination and the biopsy technique (p = 0.06). On the other hand, there were associations between the presence of tumor contamination and local recurrence (p = 0.01) and between tumor contamination and absence of neoadjuvant chemotherapy (p = 0.02). CONCLUSION: Tumor contamination in the biopsy path of primary malignant bone tumors was associated with local recurrence. On the other hand, the histological type of the tumor and the type of biopsy did not have an influence on tumor contamination. Neoadjuvant chemotherapy had a protective effect against this complication. Despite these findings, tumor contamination is a complication that should always be taken into consideration, and removal of the biopsy path is recommended in tumor resection surgery.

Os autores revisaram sistematicamente a literatura da última década sobre o papel ocupado pela citologia na avaliação das neoplasias músculo-esqueléticas e sua precisão diagnóstica. Foi realizada uma consulta nas bases de dados PubMed, MEDLINE, LILACS e SciELO, que utilizassem a citologia no diagnóstico das lesões músculo-esqueléticas . Foram utilizados limites para os idiomas inglês, espanhol e português. e artigos publicados a partir de 2000. Foram resgatados 757 artigos, dos quais 24 foram selecionados com a aplicação dos critérios de inclusão e exclusão. Concluiu-se que apesar de promissora na avaliação das lesões músculo-esqueléticas, a citologia obtida por punção por agulha fina é menos precisa e confiável do que a avaliação histológica na avaliação dessas lesões.

The authors systematically reviewed the literature of the last decade on the role of cytology in theevaluation of musculoskeletal neoplasms, and its diagnostic accuracy. A search was carried out on the databases PubMed, MEDLINE, LILACS and SciELO, selecting articles in which cytology was used in the diagnosis of musculoskeletal neoplasms. Limits(Boolean operators?) were used for English, Spanish and Portuguese, and only articles published since2000 were selected. 757 articles were retrieved, 24 of which were selected based on criteria of inclusion and exclusion. It was concluded that although promising in the assessment of musculoskeletal neoplasms, cytology obtained by fine needle aspiration is less accurate and reliable than histological evaluation of such lesions.