Utilidad de la ecografía en el diagnóstico de lesiones torácicas periféricas realizadas en una unidad de técnicas de neumología / Benefit of Chest Ultrasonography in the Diagnosis of Peripheral Thoracic Lesions in an Interventional Pulmonology Unit

Introducción y objetivos: La ecografía como guía en la punción percutánea de lesiones torácicas periféricas (LTP) ofrece ventajas frente a otras técnicas de imagen. La mayoría de los estudios con esta técnica han sido comunicados por radiólogos intervencionistas. El objetivo de este estudio ha sido analizar la rentabilidad diagnóstica de la punción percutánea guiada por ecografía en una unidad de técnicas de neumología. Metodología: Estudio retrospectivo de 58 pacientes con LTP puncionadas con visualización ecográfica en tiempo real, entre el 1 de marzo de 2011 y el 1 de septiembre de 2014. Los resultados fueron divididos en 3 categorías diagnósticas: maligna, benigna y no diagnóstica (ND); esta última incluye los resultados de benignidad no específica (SD) y los de muestra insuficiente para diagnóstico (MID). Resultados: Se obtuvo: resultado maligno en 34 (58,6%) de los procedimientos, resultado benigno en 13 (22,4%) y ND en 11 (19%) (SD en 5 [8,6%] y MID en 6 [10,3%]). En 5 de los casos ND el resultado final fue de malignidad y en 4 de ellos se tratada de una MID. La sensibilidad diagnóstica obtenida fue del 75,6%, el valor predictivo negativo del 54,2%, y la especificidad y el valor predictivo positivo del 100%, con una rentabilidad diagnóstica del 81%. Cuando se excluyeron los casos con MID los valores fueron del 87,2%, 72,3%, 100% y 100%, respectivamente, con una rentabilidad diagnóstica del 90,4%. No hubo complicaciones graves con la técnica. Conclusiones: La punción percutánea bajo guía ecográfica en LTP realizada por neumólogos intervencionistas es una técnica segura y con una alta rentabilidad diagnóstica

Introduction and objectives: The use of ultrasound in peripheral thoracic lesions offers advantages over other radiological guiding methods. This diagnostic procedure has been applied in most studies published by radiologists. Our aim was to determine the diagnostic efficacy of percutaneous ultrasound-guided punctures and biopsies of peripheral thoracic lesions performed by pulmonologists. Methodology: A retrospective analysis of 58 patients who underwent real-time ultrasound-guided transthoracic punctures and biopsy of peripheral thoracic lesions between March 2011 and September 2014 in the pulmonology department of our hospital. Cases were classified into the following diagnostic categories: malignant, benign and non-diagnostic (non-specific benign without evidence of malignancy and insufficient specimen). Results: A conclusive diagnosis was obtained in 47 procedures (81%), of which 13 (22.4%) were specific benign lesions and 34 (58.6%) cancers. In the remaining 11 (19%) patients, a non-diagnostic result was obtained [non-specific benign in 5 cases (8.6%) and insufficient specimen in 6 (10.3%)]. Sensitivity was 75.6%, negative predictive value was 54.2%, specificity and positive predictive value were 100%, and diagnostic accuracy was 81%. Excluding procedures with insufficient specimens, the results were 87.2%, 72.3%, 100%, 100% and 90.4% respectively. There were no serious complications. Conclusions: Percutaneous ultrasound-guided puncture and biopsy in the diagnosis of peripheral thoracic lesions performed by pulmonologists is a safe procedure with high diagnostic accuracy. We achieved similar results to those previously obtained by radiologists

Benefit of Chest Ultrasonography in the Diagnosis of Peripheral Thoracic Lesions in an Interventional Pulmonology Unit. / Utilidad de la ecografía en el diagnóstico de lesiones torácicas periféricas realizadas en una unidad de técnicas de neumología.

INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVES: The use of ultrasound in peripheral thoracic lesions offers advantages over other radiological guiding methods. This diagnostic procedure has been applied in most studies published by radiologists. Our aim was to determine the diagnostic efficacy of percutaneous ultrasound-guided punctures and biopsies of peripheral thoracic lesions performed by pulmonologists. METHODOLOGY: A retrospective analysis of 58 patients who underwent real-time ultrasound-guided transthoracic punctures and biopsy of peripheral thoracic lesions between March 2011 and September 2014 in the pulmonology department of our hospital. Cases were classified into the following diagnostic categories: malignant, benign and non-diagnostic (non-specific benign without evidence of malignancy and insufficient specimen). RESULTS: A conclusive diagnosis was obtained in 47 procedures (81%), of which 13 (22.4%) were specific benign lesions and 34 (58.6%) cancers. In the remaining 11 (19%) patients, a non-diagnostic result was obtained [non-specific benign in 5 cases (8.6%) and insufficient specimen in 6 (10.3%)]. Sensitivity was 75.6%, negative predictive value was 54.2%, specificity and positive predictive value were 100%, and diagnostic accuracy was 81%. Excluding procedures with insufficient specimens, the results were 87.2%, 72.3%, 100%, 100% and 90.4% respectively. There were no serious complications. CONCLUSIONS: Percutaneous ultrasound-guided puncture and biopsy in the diagnosis of peripheral thoracic lesions performed by pulmonologists is a safe procedure with high diagnostic accuracy. We achieved similar results to those previously obtained by radiologists.