Pneumothorax after CT guided transthoracic needle aspiration biopsy of lung masses

The purpose of this study was to analyze the rate of pneumothorax after CT guided transthoracic needle aspiration biopsy [TNAB] of lung masses, using variable needle sizes. A total of 70 patients underwent this procedure, among them, 18 patients [26%] developed pneumothorax with 18G needles 24 patients underwent FNA and seven of them [25%] developed pneumothorax, with 20G needle, 26% developed pneumothorax and with the 22G needle 25% developed Pneumothorax. As a conclusion the study shows that the rate of pneumothorax after CT guided TNAB of lung masses remains almost the same regardless of the size of the needle