Ultrasound-guided pleural biopsy with Tru-Cut needle.
We conducted a study of ultrasound (US)-guided pleural biopsy with a Tru-Cut needle and made a comparison with the results of a traditional pleural biopsy with an Abrams needle. A total of 49 patients with unilateral pleural effusion were included in this study. Twenty-four patients underwent a traditional pleural biopsy with an Abrams needle, and 25 patients underwent a US-guided pleural biopsy with a Tru-Cut needle. The age, sex, and underlying diseases in both groups were compatible. The amount of effusion was much less in the Tru-Cut group. In the patients who underwent the US-guided pleural biopsy with a Tru-Cut needle, the diagnostic sensitivity in pleural tuberculosis was 86 percent (6/7) and in pleural neoplasia it was 70 percent (7/10). In the patients who underwent traditional pleural biopsy with an Abrams needle, the diagnostic sensitivity in pleural tuberculosis was 20 percent (2/10) and in pleural neoplasia it was 44 percent (4/9). The result of US-guided pleural biopsy with a Tru-Cut needle was better than that of pleural biopsy with an Abrams needle, especially in pleural tuberculosis. No complication was found in the Tru-Cut group, but breakage and dislodgment of the tip of an Abrams needle occurred in one patient. The higher diagnostic yield in the Tru-Cut group may be attributed to the US guidance that can delineate the focal pleural abnormalities for biopsy. In conclusion, US-guided pleural biopsy by using a Tru-Cut needle was simple, safe, and well tolerated. It was particularly useful for patients with pleural tumor, thickened pleura, small amounts of pleural effusion, or loculated pleural effusion.
Department of Internal Medicine, National Taiwan University Hospital, Taipei, Republic of China.
D B
DB
Chang
P C
PC
Yang
K T
KT
Luh
S H
SH
Kuo
C J
CJ
Yu
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001706:Biopsy / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009339:Needles; D010995:Pleural Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology*; D010996:Pleural Effusion / Q000473:pathology; D010997:Pleural Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D014396:Tuberculosis, Pleural / Q000473:pathology; D014463:Ultrasonography