ABSTRACT
Objective To evaluate the clinical application and safety of CT-guided transthoracic cutting needle lung biopsy in diagnosing diffuse lung diseases. Methods By using automatic biopsy gun (14 & 16 gauge), CT-guided transthoracic cutting needle lung biopsy was performed in 29 cases with diffuse lung diseases. The samples obtained were sent for pathological and immunohistochemical examination. The sampling successful rate, the diagnostic accuracy and the occurrence of complications were analyzed. Results Technical success rate was 100%, and large size of sample enough for pathological and immunohistochemical examination was obtained in all 29 cases. Definite pathological diagnosis could be made in 25 cases, with the positive diagnostic rate of 82.8%. The main complications included pneumothorax and pulmonary hemorrhage. The symptoms in most cases were not severe and disappeared within one week after the treatment. Conclusion For the diagnosis of diffuse lung diseases, CT-guided transthoracic cutting needle lung biopsy is a safe, easy, effective and reliable method with high successful rate, high diagnostic value and fewer complications, in these respects this technique is superior to transbronchial lung biopsy, open lung biopsy and video-assisted thoracoscopic lung biopsy. Therefore, this technique should be popularized in clinical practice.