The role of routine transpedicular biopsies during kyphoplasty or vertebroplasty for vertebral compression fractures in the detection of malignant diseases: a systematic review.

Routine transpedicular biopsies during kyphoplasty or vertebroplasty detect unexpected malignant lesions in 0.4-6% of the patients, even though the definition of "unexpected" varies among the analyzed studies. The evidence to support a routine biopsy is inconsistent. Nevertheless, routine biopsies can be considered, especially when sufficient preoperatvie imaging is not available or radiological findings are unclear.