title: CT-guided transthoracic needle biopsy.
abstract: CT-guided biopsy of pulmonary and mediastinal lesions is safe and effective. It is most valuable in those cases in which fluoroscopic guidance is not possible due to resolution or anatomic consideration. CT guidance permits puncture of lesions as small as 0.5 cm, typically not seen fluoroscopically. Sensitivity of biopsy in malignant lung lesions in our series of 83 cases was 92%. Pneumothorax is the most frequent complication (10-60%) and requires chest tube insertion in 5-15% of patients.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, University of California, San Diego Medical Center.
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Gardner
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: vanSonnenberg
authors.forename: H B
authors.initials: HB
authors.lastname: D'Agostino
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Casola
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Taggart
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: May
mesh_terms: D001707:Biopsy, Needle / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D008171:Lung Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology*; D008477:Mediastinal Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology*; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed