New suction guide needle designed to reduce the incidence of biopsy-related pneumothorax: experimental evaluation in canine model

In an attempt to remove air that enters the pleural space during computed tomography (CT)-guided coaxial transthoracic needle biopsy, the authors fashioned an 18-gauge experimental suction guide needle and evaluated the incidence of pneumothorax with this needle in comparison to the incidence of pneumothorax with a standard 18-gauge guide needle in a canine model. This experiment had animal care and use committee approval. Ten dogs underwent a biopsy of each lung, for a total of 20 lung biopsies. Half of the biopsies were performed by using the experimental needle (five right lungs, five left lungs), and half were performed by using a standard guide needle. CT revealed pneumothorax during the procedure and was performed to reveal pneumothorax 1 and 3 hours after the procedure. A significant reduction (P < .016) in intraprocedural lung biopsy-associated pneumothorax was found when the experimental guide needle was used.     

Pneumothoraces and chest tube placement after CT-guided transthoracic lung biopsy using a coaxial technique: incidence and risk factors

OBJECTIVE: This study investigates factors influencing the risk of pneumothorax and chest tube placement in patients undergoing CT-guided transthoracic lung biopsy for pulmonary lesions using a coaxial technique. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: The study included 307 patients with pulmonary lesions biopsied under CT guidance. Patient-related parameters considered were age, sex, presence of emphysema or bullae, and lung function data. Lesion-related variables were size, location, cavitary appearance on CT, pleural contact, and depth of the lesion. Procedure variables were duration, type of needle, and experience of the operator. All variables were analyzed as single and multiple dependent variables for occurrence of pneumothorax. RESULTS: Pneumothorax occurred in 61 (19.9%) of the 307 patients, and chest tube placement was required in six patients (2.0%). Univariate analysis showed that lesion size, lesion location, lesion depth, and difficulty of the procedure were significantly associated with a higher rate of pneumothorax. Using multivariate logistic regression analysis, we found that lesion depth from the pleural entry point was the sole variable that was significantly associated with an increased risk of pneumothorax. This risk increased with the depth of the lesion. Chest tube placement was required more frequently in patients with severe emphysema, obstructive lung disease, or hyperinflation. CONCLUSION: Lesion depth is the predominant risk factor for pneumothorax in patients undergoing CT-guided transthoracic lung biopsy. Chest tube placement is necessary more frequently in patients with severe emphysema, obstructive lung disease, or hyperinflation.     

Percutaneous biopsy of thoracic lesions: value of sonography for needle guidance

Fluoroscopy and CT are widely used to guide percutaneous needle biopsy of thoracic lesions. However, some lesions are not sufficiently visible on fluoroscopy and others are dangerous to access on CT without real-time monitoring. When these are the circumstances, sonographic guidance may be helpful. Real-time sonography was used to guide percutaneous needle biopsy in 124 patients with thoracic lesions. The indications for sonographic guidance included pulmonary, pleural, or mediastinal lesions in contact with the chest wall, including lesions near the heart or great vessels (n = 12); lesions in the apical region (n = 5); lesions in a juxtadiaphragmatic location (n = 6); small lung nodules adjacent to the chest wall (n = 16); and peripheral tumors with adjacent pleural effusion (n = 4). A diagnosis was made in 74 (90%) of 82 malignant lesions and in 24 (67%) of 36 benign lesions. Complications included pneumothorax (n = 5), hemoptysis (n = 1), and hemothorax (n = 1). The advantages of sonographic guidance are that the sonographic equipment is mobile and real-time monitoring makes the procedure safer. Its limitations are that it cannot be used when aerated lung or free air (pneumothorax) lies between the chest wall and the lesion and that cavitary lesions are difficult to sample by biopsy. Our results show that the use of sonographic guidance considerably expands the number of thoracic lesions amenable to percutaneous biopsy.     

MDCT-Guided Transthoracic Needle Aspiration Biopsy of the Lung Using the Transscapular Approach

The purpose of this study is to report our preliminary experience using MDCT-guided percutaneous transthoracic needle aspiration biopsy using the transscapular approach in the upper posterolateral lung nodules, an area that it is difficult or hazardous to reach with the conventional approach. Five patients underwent CT-guided percutaneous transthoracic needle aspiration biopsy of the lung via the transscapular approach. A coaxial needle technique was used in all patients. Biopsy was successful in all patients. No major complications were encountered. One patient developed a minimal pneumothorax next to the lesion immediately after biopsy, which resolved spontaneously. MDCT-guided percutaneous transthoracic needle aspiration biopsy of the lung via the transscapular approach is an effective and safe procedure that reduces the risk of pneumothorax in selected patients.     

Guidance of percutaneous pulmonary biopsies with real-time CT fluoroscopy

OBJECTIVE: Clinical evaluation of computed tomography (CT) fluoroscopy and comparison with conventional CT guidance for monitoring of percutaneous pulmonary biopsy procedures. METHODS: Twenty CT-guided pulmonary biopsy procedures were conducted. The interventions have prospectively been performed either with CT fluoroscopy or with conventional CT guidance. About 120 kV and 50 mA with a frame-rate of eight images per second were used for CT fluoroscopy. Number of pleural needle passages, procedure times, radiation doses and histologic results were analyzed separately for both methods. RESULTS: Compared with conventional CT guidance, CT fluoroscopy was associated with less pleural needle passages (1.8+/-0.6 vs. 1.1+/-0.3; P=0.003, t-test) and procedure times were shorter than for conventional CT guidance (12.7+/-2.2 min vs. 26.7+/-16.4 min; P=0.02). Analysis of estimated patient related radiation exposure and histologic outcome showed no significant difference between conventional and fluoroscopic CT-guided procedures (P>0.05). CONCLUSION: CT fluoroscopy facilitates guidance of percutaneous pulmonary biopsy procedures. Compared with conventional CT assistance, procedure times are decreased and less pleural needle passages are required. While patient-related radiation exposure is similar, operator-related radiation exposure remains a disadvantage associated with CT fluoroscopy.     

Transthoracic needle aspiration biopsy: variables that affect risk of pneumothorax.

PURPOSE: To analyze the influence of multiple variables on the rate of pneumothorax and chest tube placement associated with transthoracic needle aspiration biopsy of the lung. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In 346 patients, 331 computed tomographically (CT) guided and 24 fluoroscopically guided lung biopsies were performed. Variables analyzed were lesion size, depth, and location; number of pleural passes; needle size; presence of emphysema; and training level of the person who performed the biopsy. RESULTS: Pneumothorax occurred at 144 (40.4%) of 356 biopsies, including 139 (42.0%) CT-guided and five (21%) fluoroscopically guided biopsies. Chest tube placement was needed in 25 (17.4%) of 144 cases of pneumothorax (7% of all biopsies). An increased rate of pneumothorax was correlated with smaller lesion size (P = .001) and presence of emphysema (P = .01). Patients with emphysema were three times as likely to require chest tube placement. The pneumothorax rate was 15% (16 of 105) if no aerated lung was traversed and approximately 50% if aerated lung was penetrated. Lesion location, needle size, number of pleural passes, and level of training were not correlated with pneumothorax rate. CONCLUSION: Smaller lesion size and emphysema are strongly correlated with occurrence of pneumothorax. Pneumothorax was more than three times less frequent if no aerated lung was traversed. After pneumothorax, chest tube placements were related to the presence of emphysema.     

Transthoracic Adrenal Biopsy Procedure Using Artificial Carbon Dioxide Pneumothorax as Outpatient Procedure

Many routes have been described for percutaneous adrenal gland biopsy. They require either a complex non-axial path or a long hydrodissection or even pass through an organ thereby increasing complications. We describe here an approach using an artificially-induced carbon dioxide (CO₂) pneumothorax, performed as an outpatient procedure in a 57-year-old woman. Under local anaesthesia, 200 ml of CO₂ was injected in the pleural space through a Veress needle under computed tomography fluoroscopy, to clear the lung parenchyma from the biopsy route. Using this technique, transthoracic adrenal biopsy can be performed under simple local anaesthesia as an safely outpatient procedure.     

Biopsy of lung nodules with use of I-I device under intermittent CT fluoroscopic guidance: preliminary clinical study

PURPOSE: To investigate the efficacy of computed tomography (CT) fluoroscopy and a new needle holder (the I-I device) in lung nodule biopsy. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The I-I device is made of acrylate resin and was used to keep the entire needle in the tomographic plane. This study consisted of biopsies of 79 lung nodules in 77 patients. The final diagnoses were malignant in 54 patients, benign in 23, and unconfirmed in two. The biopsy procedure time from the beginning of the CT fluoroscopy procedure to the removal of the needle was measured for 24 needle passes. The radiation dose on the physician's hand was measured in five cases with use of a thermoluminescence ring. RESULTS: Fifty-one malignant and 20 benign lesions were correctly diagnosed with histologic specimens (90%). In 58 of 77 patients (75%), the biopsy procedures were completed within a single breath-hold. Pneumothorax occurred in 20 of 77 patients (26%) and chest tube insertion was required in five. The incidence of pneumothorax was significantly lower in patients who held their breath during biopsy procedures compared with those who did not (P < .0001; chi2 test). The biopsy procedure time ranged from 15 to 39 seconds (mean: 28.2 sec). The mean radiation dose on the physician's hand was 2 mSv/case. CONCLUSION: The diagnostic accuracy of biopsy with use of the I-I device under CT fluoroscopic guidance is comparable with that of the conventional method; however, a combination of CT fluoroscopy and the I-I device enables rapid biopsy procedures.     

MR fluoroscopy-guided transthoracic fine-needle aspiration biopsy: feasibility

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the feasibility of using an open-configuration magnetic resonance (MR) imaging system with MR fluoroscopic guidance to perform percutaneous transthoracic fine-needle aspiration biopsy in patients with lung masses. Percutaneous transthoracic aspiration biopsies were performed with MR fluoroscopic guidance in 14 patients. The masses were 2-7 cm in diameter (mean, 4.1 cm). The needle was positioned by using a free-hand technique with MR fluoroscopic guidance. The needle tip reached the target lesion, and biopsy was performed. Analysis of the biopsy specimens facilitated a specific diagnosis in all patients. Pneumothorax was noted in two patients (14%) with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Study results showed that the described MR fluoroscopy-guided transthoracic biopsy technique can be used safely and successfully for lung masses. MR fluoroscopy can be used to reach the target lesion easily and accurately.     

Usefulness and Limitation of Manual Aspiration Immediately After Pneumothorax Complicating Interventional Radiological Procedures with the Transthoracic Approach

The goal of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of simple aspiration of air from the pleural space to prevent increased pneumothorax and avoid chest tube placement in cases of pneumothorax following interventional radiological procedures performed under computed tomography fluoroscopic guidance with the transthoracic percutaneous approach. While still on the scanner table, 102 cases underwent percutaneous manual aspiration of a moderate or large pneumothorax that had developed during mediastinal, lung, and transthoracic liver biopsies and ablations of lung and hepatic tumors (independent of symptoms). Air was aspirated from the pleural space by an 18- or 20-gauge intravenous catheter attached to a three-way stopcock and 20- or 50-mL syringe. We evaluated the management of each such case during and after manual aspiration. In 87 of the 102 patients (85.3%), the pneumothorax had resolved completely on follow-up chest radiographs without chest tube placement, but chest tube placement was required in 15 patients. Requirement of chest tube insertion significantly increased in parallel with the increased volume of aspirated air. When receiver-operating characteristic curves were applied retrospectively, the optimal cutoff level of aspirated air on which to base a decision to abandon manual aspiration alone and resort to chest tube placement was 670 mL. Percutaneous manual aspiration of the pneumothorax performed immediately after the procedure might prevent progressive pneumothorax and eliminate the need for chest tube placement. However, when the amount of aspirated air is large (such as more than 670 mL), chest tube placement should be considered.     

CT fluoroscopy-guided abdominal interventions: techniques, results, and radiation exposure.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the benefits of computed tomographic (CT) fluoroscopy-guided interventions and assess radiation exposures incurred with CT fluoroscopy. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A 6-month period of use of CT fluoroscopy to guide abdominal biopsy procedures and catheter drainage was analyzed. Efficacy measures and needle placement and procedure room times were compared with those of the preceding 6 months during which conventional CT was used. CT fluoroscopic times and estimated radiation exposures were compared for two CT fluoroscopic methods. RESULTS: The sensitivity and negative predictive values for biopsy procedures and the success rate for needle aspiration or catheter drainages for CT fluoroscopy--98%, 86%, and 100%, respectively--were not significantly different from those for conventional CT--95%, 80%, and 97%, respectively. Room time was not reduced significantly, but mean needle placement time for CT fluoroscopy (29 minutes; n = 95) was significantly lower than that for conventional CT (36 minutes; n = 93; P < .005). The mean patient dose index was 74 cGy. Limiting CT fluoroscopy to scanning the needle tip rather than scanning the entire needle pass significantly reduced the dose to the patient and the operator. CONCLUSION: Although CT fluoroscopy is a useful targeting technique, significant radiation exposures may result. Therefore, radiologists need to be aware of different methods of CT fluoroscopic guidance and the factors that contribute to radiation exposure.     

Efficacy of manual aspiration immediately after complicated pneumothorax in CT-guided lung biopsy

PURPOSE: The goal of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of simple aspiration of air from the pleural space to prevent increased pneumothorax and avoid chest tube placement in cases of pneumothorax after computed tomography (CT)-guided lung biopsy. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This retrospective study was based on experience with 283 consecutive percutaneous needle lung biopsies with real-time CT fluoroscopic guidance. While patients were on the CT scanner table, percutaneous manual aspiration was performed in all those with moderate or large pneumothorax demonstrated on postbiopsy chest CT images regardless of symptoms. The authors evaluated the frequency of biopsy-induced pneumothorax, management of each such case, and factors that influenced the incidence of worsening pneumothorax that required chest tube placement despite manual aspiration. RESULTS: Of the 104 (36.7%) pneumothoraces occurring after 283 biopsy procedures, 52 were treated with manual aspiration immediately after biopsy. In 95 of the 104 pneumothoraces (91.3%), the pneumothorax had resolved completely on follow-up chest radiographs without chest tube placement. Only nine patients (3.2% of the entire series; 8.7% of those who developed pneumothorax) required chest tube placement. Requirement of chest tube insertion significantly increased parallel to the increased volume of aspirated air. The optimal cutoff level of aspirated air on which to base a decision to abandon manual aspiration alone and resort to chest tube placement was 543 mL. CONCLUSION: Percutaneous manual aspiration of biopsy-induced pneumothorax performed immediately after biopsy may prevent progressive pneumothorax and eliminate the need for chest tube placement. However, in cases in which the amount of aspirated air is large (such as more than 543 mL in this study), the possibility of required chest tube placement increases.     

Transthoracic needle biopsy using a C-arm cone-beam CT system: diagnostic accuracy and safety

Objective

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the diagnostic accuracy and safety of performing transthoracic needle biopsy (TNB) under combined fluoroscopy and CT guidance using a C-arm cone-beam CT (CBCT) system.

Methods

We evaluated the diagnostic accuracy and safety of performing TNB using a C-arm CBCT system. We retrospectively evaluated 99 TNB cases performed in 98 patients using a C-arm CBCT system with an 18-gauge automated cutting needle. We reviewed the diagnostic accuracy according to the size and depth of the lesion, incidence of complications, additional treatment for complications, procedure time, number of needle passes per biopsy and radiation dose.

Results

The final diagnoses revealed 72 malignant and 27 benign lesions. The overall malignancy sensitivity, malignancy specificity and diagnostic accuracy were 95.8%, 100% and 97.0%, respectively, and those for small pulmonary nodules <20 mm in size were 94.1%, 100% and 96.6%, respectively. There was no significant difference in the correct diagnosis of malignancy according to lesion size (p=0.634) or depth (p=0.542). For benign lesions, a specific diagnosis was obtained in 14 cases (51.9%). TNB induced complications in 19 out of 99 procedures (19.2%), including pneumothorax (16.2%), immediate haemoptysis (2.0%) and subcutaneous emphysema (1.0%). Among these, four patients with pneumothorax required chest tube insertion (2.0%) or pig-tail catheter drainage (2.0%). The mean procedure time, number of needle passes and radiation doses were 11.9±4.0 min, 1.2±0.5 times and 170.0±67.2 mGy, respectively.

Conclusion

TNB using a C-arm CBCT system provides high diagnostic accuracy with a low complication rate and a short procedure time, particularly for small pulmonary nodules.Transthoracic needle biopsy (TNB) under image guidance is a well-known procedure for evaluating thoracic mass lesions, with a high diagnostic accuracy and a relatively low complication rate [1-5]. TNB can be performed under various types of image guidance, including fluoroscopy, CT and ultrasonography. The decision regarding which technique to use usually depends on the characteristics of the pulmonary lesions, such as size, location, the radiologist''s preference and the accessibility of imaging systems.Currently, CT or CT fluoroscopy is the most preferred method of image guidance for TNB. CT fluoroscopy provides real-time guidance of the biopsy needle in addition to the advantages of CT guidance, decreasing the procedure time and number of needle passes compared with CT-guided procedures [1]. However, significant radiation exposure to the operator''s hands is one limitation of this procedure.The C-arm cone-beam CT (CBCT) system is a form of flat-panel volume CT in which a cone-beam X-ray tube and a flat-panel detector are integrated within a C-arm gantry. This provides both CT and real-time fluoroscopic guidance for TNB [6].The purpose of this study was to evaluate the diagnostic accuracy and safety of performing TNB under combined fluoroscopy and CT guidance using a C-arm CBCT system.     

Comparison of sonographic and CT guidance techniques: does CT fluoroscopy decrease procedure time?

OBJECTIVE: Procedure times for percutaneous biopsies were compared for various guidance techniques including helical CT, CT fluoroscopy, sonography with an attached needle guide, and freehand sonography with computer guidance. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Three interventional radiologists experienced in CT- and sonographically guided procedures performed biopsies on a phantom model. The phantom simulated hepatic metastases of various sizes and depths with subcostal or intercostal locations. Lesion sizes were 7, 10, and 20 mm, at 3- and 7-cm depths. Using self-aspirating needles, two passes were performed in each lesion. Mean procedure time per biopsy pass was calculated. A two-tailed Student's t test was used to compare guidance techniques. RESULTS: Mean procedure time per biopsy pass for the four guidance techniques was sonography with a needle guide, 36+/-9 sec; sonography with computer guidance, 43+/-10 sec; helical CT, 146+/-42 sec; and CT fluoroscopy, 50+/-18 sec. CT fluoroscopy required 2.6+/-1.0 sec per biopsy. Helical CT required more procedure time than sonography with a needle guide, CT with computer guidance, and CT fluoroscopy (p < 0.0001). Sonography with a needle guide required less procedure time than sonography with computer guidance (p < 0.002) and CT fluoroscopy (p = 0.0003). Procedure times for CT fluoroscopy and sonography with computer guidance were not statistically different (p = 0.06). CT and sonographic guidance were equally effective regardless of lesion size, depth, or location. CONCLUSION: Traditional sonographic biopsy techniques are faster and more cost-effective than traditional CT techniques; however, CT fluoroscopy offers the localization advantages of CT with improved procedure times.     

胸膜外定位法CT导引下经肺穿刺活检

目的 探讨胸膜外定位(EPL)法行CT导引下经肺穿刺活检,在减少气胸发生率和气胸量方面的应用价值.方法 选取行CT导引下肺穿刺活检中肺内病变与相邻胸膜不接触的患者共115例,根据定位方法的不同,分为EPL组46例、病灶边缘定位(EEL)组69例,两组患者又根据病变外缘沿穿刺方向与胸壁内缘的距离分为近距组(距离≤2era)和远距组(距离>2cm),对比两组患者气胸发生率与气胸量,并进行行×列表X2检验.分别记录并计算两组活检针在肺内的滞留时间及其平均值.结果 EPL组气胸发生率为45.7%(21/46),脏壁层胸膜最大距离0.2～2.5cm,中位数0.4cm;IZL组气胸发生率为66.7%(46/69),脏壁层胸膜最大距离0.2～9.0cm,中位数0.3cm.病灶与胸膜距离≤2cm时,EPL组气胸发生率为39.4%(13/33);LEL组气胸发生率为73.2%(30/41),两组差异有统计学意义(X2=9.981,P=0.019).病灶与胸膜距离>2cm时,EPL组气胸发生率略低于LEL,但两组差异无统计学意义.EPL组活检针在肺内的滞留时间为(7.2±1.8)s,LEL组为(58.3±11.6)s.结论 EPL法CT导引下肺穿刺活检能明显缩短活检针在肺内的滞留时间,减少气胸发生率及产生的气胸量,具有一定价值,是一种值得推广的新方法.     

弹簧芯状活检针在CT引导经皮肺穿刺活检中的应用

目的：探讨CT引导下使用弹簧芯状活检针行比皮肺穿刺活检的诊断准确性和并发症发生率。方法：38例使用弹簧芯状活检针的经皮肺穿刺活检。CT扫描确定并引导穿刺途径,达预定位置取材。结果：35例有明显的病理诊断,诊断准确性92％,恶性肿瘤和良性病变的诊断准确性分别为97％和100％。活后并发气胸4例,咯血1例,结论：CT引导下使用弹簧芯状活检针行经皮肺穿刺活检的气胸发生率与细针抽吸相近,使弹簧芯状活检针行CT引导下肺穿刺活检可以提高诊断的准确性。     

Pneumothorax post CT-guided lung biopsy: a comparison between detection on chest radiographs and CT

Pneumothorax is reported to be a more common complication of lung biopsy performed under computed tomography (CT) than under fluoroscopic guidance. This may simply reflect the greater sensitivity of CT over chest radiographs (CXRs) in the detection of small pneumothoraces. This study aimed to determine the incidence of pneumothorax detected by CXR and by CT after CT-guided biopsy of non-pleurally based pulmonary masses, and to compare these incidences with previous reports in the literature of pneumothorax incidence post fluoroscopic biopsy. 88 consecutive CT-guided lung biopsies of masses not abutting the pleural surface were included. Immediate post-biopsy CT images, and 1 and 4 h CXRs were assessed independently by two observers for the presence and size of pneumothorax. 72 biopsies were fine needle aspirations (FNAs) performed with 22 G spinal needles only, seven were cutting needle biopsies (CNBs) performed with 18 G cutting needles only, and nine were both. 37 patients (42%) developed a pneumothorax. 35 were detected on CT (40%) and 22 on CXR (25%). None required tube drainage. Of the patients in whom CT demonstrated a pneumothorax, the average depth of this was significantly greater for those in whom CXR also detected a pneumothorax compared with those in whom CXR was negative (7.3 mm versus 3.4 mm, p < 0.05). The incidence of pneumothorax detected on CXR post CT-guided biopsy is similar to the reported incidence post fluoroscopic biopsy.     

Advantages of multidetector-row CT with multiplanar reformation in guiding percutaneous lung biopsies

PURPOSE: This study aimed to assess the usefulness of multiplanar reformations (MPR) during multidetector-row computed tomography (MDCT)-guided percutaneous needle biopsy of lung lesions difficult to access with the guidance of the native axial images alone owing to overlying bony structures, large vessels or pleural fissures. MATERIALS AND METHODS: MDCT-guided transthoracic needle biopsy (TNB) was performed on 84 patients (55 men and 29 women; mean age 65 years) with suspected lung neoplasm by using a spiral MDCT scanner with the simultaneous acquisition of six slices per rotation. We determined the site of entry of the 22-gauge Chiba needle on native axial images and coronal or sagittal MPR images. We took care to ensure the shortest needle path without overlying large vessels, main bronchi, pleural fissures or bony structures; access to the lung parenchyma as perpendicular as possible to the pleural plane; and sampling of highly attenuating areas of noncalcified tissue within the lesion. RESULTS: Diagnostic samples were obtained in 96% of cases. In 73 patients, lesions appeared as a solid noncalcified nodule <2 cm; 11 lesions were mass-like. In 22, the biopsy required MPR guidance owing to overlying ribs (18), fissures (2) or hilar-mediastinal location (2). CONCLUSIONS: MDCT MPR images allowed sampling of pulmonary lesions until now considered unreachable with axial MDCT guidance because of overlying bony structures (ribs, sternum and scapulae) or critical location (hilar-mediastinal, proximity to the heart or large vessels). Compared with the conventional procedure, the use of MPR images does not increase the rate of pneumothorax or the procedure time.     

320例胸部病变CT引导经皮穿刺活检总结

目的：评价CT引导经皮胸部穿刺术的诊断价值和并发症。材料和方法：收集资料完整的320例CT引导胸部穿刺活检病例作回顾性分析。肺部病变267例,纵隔病变30例,胸壁和胸膜病变23例。统计敏感性、特异性、准确性和并发症,并分析其影响因素。结果：191例穿刺确诊为恶性肿瘤。穿刺未发现癌细胞者129例,后经手术和随访证实其中属特征性阴性结果者58例,非特征性阴性结果46例,假阴性25例。未见假阳性,阳性预测值为100％（191／191）,敏感性为88．4％（191／216）,特异性为80．6％（104／129）,准确性为92．2％（295／320）,假阴性率为19．4％（25／129）。29例发生气胸,占9．1％（29／320）,但仅1．6％（5／320）需要引流处理。肺出血12例,咯血12例,纵隔血肿8例,均为少量,不需处理。结论：CT引导经皮胸部穿刺是敏感性高和安全的定性诊断方法,降低假阴性是进一步提高准确性的关键。     

Transthoracic fine-needle aspiration biopsy of the lungs using a C-arm cone-beam CT system: diagnostic accuracy and post-procedural complications

Objective: The purpose of our study was to evaluate the diagnostic accuracy of transthoracic fine-needle aspiration biopsy (TFNAB) using a C-arm cone-beam CT (CBCT) system and to assess risk factors for immediate post-procedural complications in patients with lung lesions. Methods: From October 2007 to April 2009, 94 TFNAB procedures using a C-arm system were studied in 91 patients with pulmonary lesions a chest CT scans. We retrospectively reviewed the patients' radiological and histopathological findings. We evaluated the lesion size, lesion abutted to pleura and presence or absence of emphysema along the needle path, lesion depth, visibility of target lesion and patient's position. Pneumothorax and pulmonary haemorrhage were assessed after TFNAB. Overall diagnostic accuracy, sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value (PPV) and negative predictive value (NPV) were analysed. Results: In 94 TFNAB procedures, 58 lesions were malignant and 36 were benign. The sensitivity, specificity, PPV, NPV and overall diagnostic accuracy rate of TFNAB were 93.1%, 100%, 100%, 90% and 97.9%, respectively. Pneumothorax was developed in 24 procedures. None of the parameters showed significant impact on the frequency of the pneumothorax. Overall haemorrhage occurred in 43 procedures. The incidence of overall haemorrhage was higher in patients with smaller lesions, longer pleural distance and pleural abutted lesions (p<0.05). Differences in visibility at projection radiographs were statistically significant between patients with or without perilesional haemorrhage (p<0.05). Conclusion: Transthoracic fine-needle aspiration biopsy using a C-arm CBCT system is feasible for imaging guidance of lung lesion and early detection of the procedural-related complications.