Percutaneous Needle Aspiration Biopsy of Chest Lesions: Effectivenese When Using an 18-Gauge Needle

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: Results of 181 percutaneous needle aspiration biopsies performed with an 18-gauge needle during a period of 3 years were analyzed to determine efficacy and safety of the procedure. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Biposies were performed in patients that could not be diagnosed by bronchoscopy or sputum cytology. The biopsy procedure with 18-gauge Crown needle was guided by fiuoroscopy. The biopsy specimen placed in 10% formalin solution were histologically confirmed. RESULTS: In 160 patients(89%), the positive diagnosis was made by percutaneous needle aspiration biopsy. There were 153 lung lesions(120 malignant and 33 benign lesions) and 7 mediastinal lesions. the diagnostic accuracy of malignant and benign disease was 91% and 80% respectively. Complications included pneumothorax(n=11) and hemothorax(n=l)six of them required treatment with chest tube and the remainder showed spontaneous resporption. CONCLUSION: PCNB with an 18-gauge needle provided a reliable, relatively safe diagnostic tool to establish the diagnosis of both malignant and benign chest lesions.