Needle muscle biopsy: will it make open biopsy obsolete?

Seventy-five needle muscle biopsies have been performed in this department over the past two years. Adequate biopsies were obtained in 69 cases. In 40 cases a variety of neuromuscular conditions was seen, broadly categorised as necrotizing myopathy (10), neurogenic atrophy (7), metabolic myopathy (5), vasculitis (2), normal muscle (7), and non-specific changes (9). Twenty-nine cases were for muscular dystrophy carrier detection. There were no complications associated with the procedure. The technique is simple and quick, and can be performed on outpatients or in the ward. Needle biopsy is the method of choice for sampling skeletal muscle in most patients, although open biopsy is still indicated for certain conditions.

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