J Korean Radiol Soc.  2007 Apr;56(4):339-347. 10.3348/jkrs.2007.56.4.339.

CT-guided Transthoracic Needle Biopsy with an 18-Guage Automated Cutting Needle: Diagnostic benefits and safety

• Yang HS
• Kim YH
• Sun HJ
• Yoon W
• Kim JK
• Park JG
• Kang HK

• KMID: 2103858
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.3348/jkrs.2007.56.4.339

Abstract

PURPOSE: We wanted to evaluate the diagnostic benefits and safety of performing CT-guided transthoracic needle biopsy (TTNB) with using an18-gauge automated cutting needle.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of 332 patients who underwent CT-guided transthoracic biopsy with an automated 18-gauge cutting needle for 341 thoracic lesions. The histopathologic results, diagnostic accuracy and complication rate were determined.
RESULTS
316 (92.7%) of 34l lesions were histopathologically diagnosed by CT-guided TTNB. The lesions were malignant in 172 patients and benign in 144 patients. The diagnostic accuracy was 92.9%. The sensitivity and specificity for malignant lesions were 93% and 92.3%, respectively. The sensitivity and specificity for benign lesions were 92.3% and 93%, respectively. TTNB induced complications developed for 54 of 341 (15.8%) procedures. The most frequent complication was pneumothorax (41/341, 12%). Nine patients with pneumothorax (9/41, 22%) required chest tube placement.
CONCLUSION
CT-guided TTNB with an 18-gauge automated cutting needle could be useful for making the histopathologic diagnosis of malignant and benign pulmonary lesions as the technique provides a big enough tissue sample for histopathologic examination. The procedure-related complication rate was acceptably low.

Keyword

Lung, biopsy; Computed tomography (CT), guidance; Biopsies; Thorax, biopsy

MeSH Terms

Biopsy
Biopsy, Needle*
Chest Tubes
Diagnosis
Humans
Medical Records
Needles*
Pneumothorax
Retrospective Studies
Sensitivity and Specificity