Improper techniques for biopsy can result in missed diagnoses and the contamination of surrounding tissue planes, and may compromise future limb salvage or amputation. A biopsy procedure must therefore be carefully considered and planned to avoid unnecessary treatment procedures, changes in the course of treatment, or both. Essentially, biopsy is done with one of four techniques, consisting of open incisional, open excisional, percutaneous core needle biopsy, and fine-needle aspiration. Each technique has distinct indications, advantages, disadvantages, and risks. Additional considerations in planning an effective biopsy include the types of lesions that need to be biopsied and those that do not, the most appropriate technique for the biopsy, the anatomic approach that should be taken, and the way in which biopsied tissue should be handled prior to delivering it to the pathologist.
