title: Transthoracic needle biopsy.
abstract: Percutaneous fine-needle aspiration biopsy is a relatively simple invasive procedure with good patient acceptance, low morbidity, and almost negligible mortality. It provides a diagnosis of pulmonary, hilar, and mediastinal masses quickly and accurately, thus eliminating many laboratory tests, saving hospital days, and thereby saving time and money. Percutaneous fine-needle aspiration biopsy should be performed early in the investigation of many types of intrathoracic lesions.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Toronto Hospital, University of Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
authors.forename: G L
authors.initials: GL
authors.lastname: Weisbrod
mesh_terms: D001707:Biopsy, Needle / Q000009:adverse effects; D006801:Humans; D008168:Lung / Q000473:pathology*; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis; D010997:Pleural Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology; D013909:Thorax