Tuberc Respir Dis.  1996 Jun;43(3):339-347. 10.4046/trd.1996.43.3.339.

Diagnostic Efficacy and Complications by Transthoracic Fine NeedleAspiration Biopsy of Localized Lung Lesions

• Seong NC
• Kim KJ
• Yoon KH
• Yoo JH
• Kang HM

• KMID: 2043514
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.4046/trd.1996.43.3.339

Abstract

BACKGROUND
Transthoracic fine needle aspiration and biopsy(TNAB) has become a frequently used technique in the investigation of the intrathoracic lesions because of its safety, reliability, and accuracy. METHOD: Data on 125 patients who underwent TNAB from 1990 through 1994 were studied to determine the diagnostic sensitivity, accuracy and complications of this procedure as related to lesion type and location.
RESULTS
1. The over-all diagnostic sensitivity of TNAB was 61.6%(77 of 125 patients). 2. The diagnostic yields were as high as 89.9% for malignant lesions, but a specific diagnosis of benign lesions were obtained only in 30% of benign lung lesions. 3. The correlation between results of TNAB cytology and of final histology was as high as 88.2%. 4. Lung lesions that were greater than 3cm in size had a higher proportion of correct diagnosis(73.3%) as compared with lesions 3cm or less in size(38.1%). But there was no significant difference between the central and peripheral lung lesions. 5. There were no serious complications to TNAB. In 12.8% of the procedures a pneumothorax developed, indicating a chest tube in 1.6% of the procedures. In 2 cases, minimal hemoptysis developed which did not require treatment.
CONCLUSION
In our experience, TNAB represents a minor and safe procedure, which permits a direct approach to localized malignant lung lesions with a high degree of accuracy.

Keyword

Transthoracic fine needle aspiration; intrathoracic lesion; pneumothorax

MeSH Terms

Biopsy*
Biopsy, Fine-Needle
Chest Tubes
Diagnosis
Hemoptysis
Humans
Lung*
Pneumothorax