Fine Needle Aspiration of Focal Lung Lesion under CT Fluoroscopic Guidance

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: We wanted to assess the efficacy of using CT fluoroscopy during Fine Needle Aspiration (FNA) for focal lung lesion. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed 22 patients who had undergone FNA under CT fluoroscopic guidance. The final diagnosis of focal lung lesion was based on surgery, the results of biopsy taken from another site or the clinical diagnosis with imaging follow-up. We reviewed the imaging and recorded the location of the lesion, the lesion size and the depth from the puncture site. RESULTS: In 24 cases of 22 patients, 16 lesions were benign and 8 were malignant. The sensitivity and specificity for malignant lesions were 100%, and 75%, respectively. The mean size of the malignant lesions was 3.75+/-1.68 cm, and that of the benign lesion was 3.05+/-2.98 cm. The mean depth of the lesion divided by the size was 1.85+/-1.09 for 20 lesions of the correct result group and 3.13+/-1.73 for 4 lesions of the incorrect result group; the difference between the two groups was statistically different (p=0.030). The complications after FNA were pneumothoraces in three cases and parenchymal hemorrhage in one case, but no significant complication was noted after the procedures. CONCLUSION: We could perform the FNA accurately and safely under CT fluoroscopy guidance, so this technique can be used for FNA of focal lung lesion for obtaining a correct result with fewer complications.