Non-Diagnostic CT-Guided Percutaneous Needle Biopsy of the Lung: Predictive Factors and Final Diagnoses.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the predictive factors for a non-diagnostic result and the final diagnosis of pulmonary lesions with an initial non-diagnostic result on CT-guided percutaneous transthoracic needle biopsy. MATERIALS AND METHODS: All percutaneous transthoracic needle biopsies performed over a 4-year period were retrospectively reviewed. The initial pathological results were classified into three categories-malignant, benign, and non-diagnostic. A non-diagnostic result was defined when no malignant cells were seen and a specific benign diagnosis could not be made. The demographic data of patients, lesions' characteristics, technique, complications, initial pathological results, and final diagnosis were reviewed. Statistical analysis was performed using binary logistic regression. RESULTS: Of 894 biopsies in 861 patients (male:female, 398:463; mean age 67, range 18-92 years), 690 (77.2%) were positive for malignancy, 55 (6.2%) were specific benign, and 149 (16.7%) were non-diagnostic. Of the 149 non-diagnostic biopsies, excluding 27 cases in which the final diagnosis could not be confirmed, 36% revealed malignant lesions and 64% revealed benign lesions. Predictive factors for a non-diagnostic biopsy included the size ≤ 15 mm, needle tract traversing emphysematous lung parenchyma, introducer needle outside the lesion, procedure time > 60 minutes, and presence of alveolar hemorrhage. Non-diagnostic biopsies with a history of malignancy or atypical cells on pathology were more likely to be malignant (p = 0.043 and p = 0.001). CONCLUSION: The predictive factors for a non-diagnostic biopsy were lesion size ≤ 15 mm, needle tract traversing emphysema, introducer needle outside the lesion, procedure time > 60 minutes, and presence of alveolar hemorrhage. Thirty-six percent of the non-diagnostic biopsies yielded a malignant diagnosis. In cases with a history of malignancy or the presence of atypical cells in the biopsy sample, a repeat biopsy or surgical intervention should be considered.

Evaluation of anomalous systemic and pulmonary venous return in a young child with heterotaxy: a case study--implications for military dependent care.

The case of a young male patient with a complex admixture lesion who required a comprehensive anatomic evaluation before palliative cardiac surgery is presented. We describe a safe anesthesia protocol for obtaining the late-acquisition, gadolinium-enhanced, magnetic resonance angiographic images necessary to define the complex pulmonary and systemic venous anatomic features of his cardiac admixture lesion. Subspecialty physician staffing implications for the care of military dependants with congenital heart disease who might benefit from evaluation using this safe simple protocol and readily available magnetic resonance imaging technology are addressed.