Single versus multiple lung biopsies for suspected interstitial lung disease.

BACKGROUND: There is a belief that in patients with suspected interstitial lung disease, multiple biopsies from different lobes are more likely to result in a diagnosis. We compared the results of single biopsies with those of multiple biopsies in terms of positive yield of histological diagnoses and the patients' postoperative outcomes. METHODS: Data of 115 patients who underwent video-assisted thoracoscopic lung biopsy, between 2009 and 2015, for suspected interstitial lung disease were analyzed retrospectively and grouped according to single or multiple lung biopsies. High-resolution computed tomography of the chest was reviewed prior to the procedure, and the most appropriate areas for sampling were chosen. Data analysis was carried out with the Mann-Whitney U test, using MedCalc version 16.1 statistical software. RESULTS: Of the 115 patients, 67 had a single biopsy and 48 had more than one biopsy. A histological diagnosis was arrived at in all cases. The duration of chest drainage (p = 0.033) and postoperative hospital stay (p = 0.012) were longer in the multiple-biopsies group. CONCLUSION: A single lung biopsy is sufficient to arrive at a diagnosis of interstitial lung disease when the sampling site is guided by high-resolution computed tomography and a multidisciplinary approach. Multiple biopsies are less cost-effective, offer no added advantage in terms of diagnostic yield, and are associated with more morbidities and a longer hospital stay.