title: [Transthoracic puncture and excavated pulmonary lesion. Diagnostic contribution and value of the extemporaneous cytologic test].
abstract: Twenty-six cases of excavated pulmonary masses are reported. In 18 cases malignancy was proven by transparietal needle aspiration. A false-negative result was due to the needle being introduced too centrally and bringing pus, whereas the tumour was an epidermoid carcinoma. The seven non-malignant lesions consisted of abscess in 4 cases, tuberculosis in 1 case and pulmonary embolism in 2 cases. The sensitivity and specificity of the technique were similar to those observed in large series of transparietal needle aspiration of solid masses. Using thin needles and extemporaneous cytology reduced the number of complications: haemothorax 6 percent, haemoptysis 0.4 percent. The authors conclude that in excavated pulmonary masses transparietal needle aspiration provides a diagnosis of malignancy when the radiological and clinical courses and bronchial fibroscopy are inconclusive. Transparietal needle aspiration avoids the need for other investigations, such as exploratory thoracotomy, thereby reducing the cost of diagnosis.
authors.affiliation: Service des maladies infectieuses, CHRU de Caen.
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Le Chevalier
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Lyonnet
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Bejui
authors.forename: J M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Pasquier
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Boniface
authors.forename: J C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Guérin
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D001707:Biopsy, Needle / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008171:Lung Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000473:pathology*; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged
vernacular_title: Ponction transthoracique et lésion pulmonaire excavée. Apport diagnostique et intérêt de l'examen cytologique extemporané.