Percutaneous needle aspiration lung biopsy

A presentation of over ten years' experience with percutaneous needle aspiration biopsy in about 200 patients is provided with special emphasis given to the technique and to the discussion of indications and contraindications as well as to common problems.     

CT-guided percutaneous lung biopsy using a cutting needle and an automated biopsy gun. Comparison with lung biopsy using a manual aspiration needle]

Twenty-five percutaneous lung biopsies using a 20-gauge cutting needle and automated biopsy gun (ABG) were performed under CT guidance in 25 patients with thoracic lesions. This procedure was compared with that using a 21-gauge manual aspiration needle in 36 patients (40 examinations, 37 lesions) in terms of success rate, rate of correct diagnosis, mean examination time and rate of complications. Specimens obtained from lung biopsy were graded by a histopathologist according to quality and quantity from 0 to 4 (pathological score). There were no statistically significant differences between the two procedures in terms of success rate, rate of correct diagnosis and rate of complications; only the time required was significantly different. However, sufficient biopsy material and a mean pathological score of G-II 2.8 (that of G-I was 1.9, p less than 0.05) could be obtained by the biopsy procedure using the cutting needle. The above results indicated that aspiration needle biopsy was adequate for lung biopsy, but that a cutting needle and ABG should be used when a good biopsy specimen is needed for tissue diagnosis.     

Positional precautions in needle aspiration lung biopsy

The authors performed 308 needle aspiration biopsies of parenchymal lung masses. The patients were then placed with the puncture site down for a period of at least 1 hour or until air leakage stopped. Coughing, talking, and activity were restricted. Complications included pneumothorax, at a rate of 25.0%, and chest tube placement, at a rate of 1.6%. In a subgroup of 262 patients who required only one pleural puncture at biopsy, a pneumothorax rate of 17.9% and a chest tube placement rate of 0.4% were encountered. When compared with a similar series of 143 control patients, significant reductions in both pneumothorax rate (P = .0004) and chest tube placement rate (P = .0001) were demonstrated.     

CT-guided transthoracic needle biopsy of pulmonary lesions: comparison between the cutting needle and aspiration needle

Objectives:To compare CT-guided transthoracic cutting needle biopsy (TCNB) with transthoracic aspiration needle biopsy (TANB) for pulmonary lesions with respect to the diagnostic accuracy and complication rate.Methods:Of the 859 cases that underwent consecutive CT-guided biopsy of pulmonary lesions, 713 cases confirmed by surgical pathology or clinical follow-up were enrolled. Of these, the first consecutive 275 cases underwent TANB, and the remaining 438 received TCNB. The final diagnosis determined the accuracy of biopsy. Based on the post-biopsy CT and clinical medical records, the presence or absence of biopsy-related complications was determined. The χ² test was used to compare the differences between TCNB and TANB in terms of diagnostic accuracy and complication rate.Results:Among the 713 biopsy lesions, the final diagnosis was malignant in 411 cases and benign in 302 cases. As compared to TANB, the diagnostic accuracy of TCNB (98.9% vs 93.8%, χ² = 14.35, p < 0.01), sensitivity to malignant lesions (97.8% vs 90.6%, χ² = 10.58, p < 0.01), negative predictive value (97.6% vs 84.8%, χ² = 19.03, p < 0.01), and specific diagnostic rate for benign lesions (73.4% vs 57.9%, χ² = 7.29, p < 0.01) were improved. On the other hand, a statistical difference was detected between TCNB and TANB with respect to the incidence of pneumothorax (20.6% vs 13.1%, χ² = 6.46, p = 0.01), hemorrhage (32.2% vs 13.1%, χ² = 33.03, p < 0.01), and hemoptysis (8.2% vs 3.3%, χ² = 6.87, p < 0.01). One patient died just several minutes after TCNB due to severe hemorrhage with hemoptysis.Conclusions:Compared to TANB, CT-guided TCNB improves the diagnostic accuracy of pulmonary lesions, but complication rate increases significantly.Advances in knowledge:In general, TCNB should be recommended, especially for highly suspicious benign lesions. For patients with small lesions adjacent to vessels or vessels within the lesion, TANB should be considered.     

Effect of patient positioning after needle aspiration lung biopsy

Fifty-five patients who underwent fluoroscopically guided needle aspiration lung biopsy were randomly assigned to one of two postbiopsy treatment groups: Patients were placed recumbent with puncture site either down (n = 36) or up (n = 19) for at least 1 hour. No significant difference in pneumothorax rate was seen between the two groups. Chest tube placement, however, was required in 21% (four of 19) of the puncture-site-up group versus 3% (one of 36) of the puncture-site-down group, which was a significant difference (P = .04). Puncture-site-down postbiopsy positioning reduces the proportion of patients requiring chest tube placement after lung biopsy.     

低剂量技术降低CT引导下经皮肺切割活检吸收剂量的临床研究

目的 探讨临床应用低剂量技术降低CT引导下经皮肺穿刺自动切割活检(ACNB)辐射剂量的可行性。方法 412例ACNB中146例(A组)采用传统方法引导,266例(B组)采用低剂量技术引导,按图像颗粒均匀性、解剖结构细节、界面清晰度和有无伪影等评定图像质量,比较2组穿刺活检准确率、操作时间及辐射剂量,并探讨CT引导中降低辐射剂量的方法。结果 B组图像解剖结构细节分辨率降低,但不影响穿刺成功率。A、B组穿刺准确率分别为95.9%、95.1%,操作时间为(16±2.2)、(15.9±2.0)min,组间差异均无统计学意义。A、B组有效剂量为(1.74±0.7)及(0.59±0.14)mSv,B组有效剂量降低66%,差异有统计学意义(t=19.3415,P(0.05)。结论 CT引导下经皮肺穿刺活检是诊断和鉴别肺部病变的重要方法,低剂量扫描、缩小扫描范围及减少扫描次数能显著降低受检者X线辐射剂量,但不影响诊断效果。     

Transthoracic needle aspiration biopsy of benign and malignant lung lesions

Transthoracic needle aspiration biopsy (TNAB) of lung lesions is a well established procedure for diagnosing lung lesions. The emphasis in the literature has been on diagnosing malignant lesions with an accuracy rate greater than 90% frequently reported. Experience with 650 patients showed that TNAB can diagnose malignant lesions in 95% of patients with cancer, and more importantly that TNAB can identify benign lesions in 88% of patients with such lesions. In this patient population, 22% of undiagnosed, noncalcified lung lesions were benign. Therefore, TNAB of lung lesions has a potential of limiting diagnostic thoracotomies to fewer than 8% of patients with lung lesions, significantly reducing the number of unnecessary thoracotomies for benign disease. The success of TNAB is affected by equipment, technique, skill, and experience and is enhanced by close cooperation among the various physicians involved.     

Complications of percutaneous transthoracic needle aspiration biopsy.

After 5,300 percutaneous transthoracic needle aspiration biopsy procedures in 2,726 patients pneumothorax occurred in 27.2 per cent of the patients. Only 7.7 per cent required exsufflation or drainage. The factors influencing the relative frequency and the severity of pneumothorax are discussed. Bleeding around the punctured lesions was found in 11 per cent, and hemoptysis in 2 per cent but were of no clinical importance. In one case evidence of needle track implantation was found. The theoretical and practical importance of tumour cell spread and spread of infection through the needle track is discussed. No air embolism or mortality occurred.     

Percutaneous transthoracic needle aspiration biopsy of benign and malignant lung lesions

Presentation of over 10 years' experience of percutaneous needle aspiration biopsy in about 200 patients, with special emphasis given to the technique and to the discussion of indications and contraindications, as well as of common problems.     

Preliminary experience with a dual cutting edge needle in thoracic percutaneous fine-needle aspiration biopsy

Results of 133 thoracic percutaneous fine-needle aspiration biopsies performed with a new dual cutting edge needle were analyzed to see if it could reduce the false-negative rate for malignancy compared with that achieved with a sharply beveled spinal needle. Results of cytologic examinations were compared with those of histopathologic examinations. Cores of tissue for histopathology could be obtained in only 51 biopsies (one of which was lost). Sensitivity of cytology (vs. histopathology) was 77.8% (vs. 57.1%); specificity and positive predictive value, 100% (same); and negative predictive value, 64.3% (vs. 46.4%). In 44 of 50 biopsies, cytologic results were equal to or better than histopathologic results diagnostically. In six biopsies (including two cases of hamartoma), the histopathologic result improved upon the cytologic result. There were no biopsies for which cytologic results were negative and histopathologic results were positive for malignancy. Use of this needle did not improve the false-negative rate for malignancy, although it did allow specific diagnosis of a hamartoma in two cases.     

Fine needle aspiration biopsy in lymphoma

Patients with lymphoma undergo excisional biopsy of an affected lymph node for initial classification of their disease because accurate classification depends on the histologic characteristics of the neoplasm. However, fine needle aspiration cytology has a role in the management of lymphoma patients, particularly in those with recurrent or residual masses following treatment. Moreover, immunologic markers, nucleic acid flow cytometry, cytogenetics, and molecular genetics, which do not depend on histologic characteristics and can be performed on fine needle aspirates, are acquiring more importance in the management of patients with these diseases, particularly in those with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. These latter tests add objectivity to the cytologic diagnosis of the B-cell lymphomas and increase its accuracy. In most series, the accuracy of fine needle aspiration in patients with lymphoma approaches 90%, with minimal complication rates.     

Fine needle biopsy without syringe aspiration

Aspiration biopsies of fresh disease-free bovine hepatic liver were performed with three commercially available, small-gauge biopsy needles. A syringe was used to create a negative pressure when using Chiba^® and Sure-cut^® needles. A syringe was not used when using PercuCut^TM needles which create an internal negative pressure equivalent to a 1.5 ml syringe when the stylet is partially withdrawn. The PercuCut and Chiba needle yielded a significantly larger specimen size than the Sure-Cut needle. There was no significant difference in sample size between the PercuCut and Chiba needles. All samples were of diagnostic quality.     

Risk factors for pneumothorax and bleeding after CT-guided percutaneous coaxial cutting needle biopsy of lung lesions.

PURPOSE: To evaluate risk factors for pneumothorax and bleeding after computed tomography (CT)-guided percutaneous coaxial cutting needle biopsy of lung lesions. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This study involved 117 consecutive patients with 117 intrapulmonary lesions. Statistical analysis of factors related to patient characteristics, lung lesions, and biopsy technique was performed to determine possible contribution to the occurrence of pneumothorax and bleeding. Interactions between related factors were considered to prevent colinearity. RESULTS: Pneumothorax occurred in 12% (14 of 117) of patients. Needle aspiration of two moderate asymptomatic pneumothoraces were performed; there was no chest tube insertion. Lesion depth (P =.0097), measured from the pleural puncture site to the edge of the intrapulmonary lesion along the needle path, was the single significant predictor of pneumothorax. The highest risk of pneumothorax occurred in subpleural lesions 2 cm or shorter in depth (this represented 33% of lung lesions but caused 71% of all pneumothoraces; OR = 7.1; 95% CI, 1.3-50.8). Bleeding presented as lung parenchyma hemorrhage and hemoptysis in 30 patients (26%). Hemoptysis occurred in four patients (3%). Univariate analysis identified lesion depth (P <.0001), lesion size (P <.015), and pathology type (P =.007) as risk factors for bleeding. Multivariate logistic regression analysis identified lesion depth as the most important risk factor, with the highest bleeding risk for lesions more than 2 cm deep (14% of lesions caused 46% of all bleeding; OR = 17.3; 95% CI, 3.3-121.4). CONCLUSIONS: In CT-guided coaxial cutting needle biopsy, lesion depth is the single predictor for risk of pneumothorax, which occurs at the highest rate in subpleural lesions. Increased risk of bleeding occurs in lesions deeper than 2 cm.     

Fine needle aspiration biopsy of osteolytic metastatic lesions.

The use of fine needle aspiration biopsy of solitary osteolytic-type bone metastases in 24 patients is described. A positive diagnosis of malignancy was obtained in 21 patients, as the softness of the osteolytic lesion yielded enough cell material for cytologic examination. No complications were encountered. The procedure can be performed with ease, even on an outpatient basis, without discomfort to the patient.     

Percutaneous pulmonary aspiration biopsy using the Chiba needle.

The Chiba needle was used for percutaneous needle aspiration of lung lesions in 35 patients. Two separate needles were used for each patient at the same sitting. The aspirate was true positive for malignancy in 23 patients and true negative for malignancy in eight patients. Two aspirates were false negative for malignancy and two aspirates, negative for malignancy, were classified as inconclusive due to inadequate patient follow-up. The overall accuracy rate was 94%. Six patients had small pneumothoraces but only one required a chest tube. Appreciable hemoptysis did not occur. The Chiba needle provided an adequate aspirate for cytologic diagnosis. The complication rate using two needles appears to be entirely acceptable.     

CT引导下经皮切割肺活检对弥漫性肺疾病的诊断价值

目的评价经皮切割肺活检术对弥漫性肺疾病的诊断价值及安全性。方法采用自动弹簧式活检枪（14及16G）对29例弥漫性肺疾病患者在CT引导下行经皮切割肺活检,所获组织送病理组织学及免疫组化检查。并对取材成功率、诊断阳性率以及并发症等进行分析。结果29例患者均获得足够行病理检查的肺组织标本,取材成功率达到100％。有25例获得确诊,诊断阳性率达82．8％。并发症主要为气胸以及肺出血,大多数不严重,且经相应治疗后均在1周内消失。结论对于弥漫性肺疾病,CT引导下经皮切割肺活检术无论在手术操作、取材成功率以及诊断阳性率均优于经支气管肺活检（TBLB）。与开胸肺活检（OLB）和电视引导下胸腔镜肺活检（VATS）相比,并发症少且轻微,患者接受度高。该技术值得推广。     

CT-guided cutting needle biopsy of lung lesions--an effective procedure for adequate material and specific diagnose

Objective

Computed guided percutaneous biopsy of lung lesions is widely accepted as an effective and safe procedure for specific diagnose. The purpose of this study is to present the experience of an oncology center in the use of computed tomography (CT)-guided cutting needle biopsy as an effective procedure for adequate material and specific diagnose of lung lesions.

Subjects and methods

This study reports a retrospective analysis of 94 consecutive patients admitted in an oncologic center, reference in Brazil (Hospital do Câncer—AC Camargo), between 1996 and 2004, who were submitted to 97 CT guided cutting needle biopsy of pulmonary lesions. Informations of material adequacy and specific diagnose were studied.

Results

In a total of 97 biopsies of lung lesions, 94 (96.9%) supplied adequate material for histological analyses with 71 (73.2%) as malignant lesions and 23 (23.7%) diagnosed as benign lesions and in 3 biopsies the material supplied was inadequate. The frequency of specific diagnosis was higher in both malignant and benign lesions with 63 (88.7%) cases and 20 (86.7%) cases respectively.

Conclusions

CT-guided cutting needle biopsy is an effective procedure for adequate material and specific diagnostic for malignant and benign lung lesions.