title: Sonographically guided needle biopsy in peripheral thoracic masses: results in 50 patients.
abstract: 50 patients with thoracic lesions were selected for percutaneous biopsy guided by real-time sonography. The indications were pulmonary, pleural and mediastinal lesions which made contact with the chest wall and sonographically accessible. Included were lesions near vital structures in the mediastinum (n = 3), in the apex of the lung (n = 8), small pulmonary nodules in contact with the chest wall (n = 24), lesions with intervening pleural fluid (n = 2), pleural nodules (n = 9) and masses arising from the chest wall itself (n = 4). A definitive diagnosis was established in 38 of the 45 (84.4%) malignant lesions and in 4 of the 5 (80%) benign lesions. Complications were restricted to one pneumothorax. Sonographically guided biopsy can be carried out as a bedside procedure. Real-time monitoring compensates for respiratory movements. Its role is curbed by intervening air such as in aerated lung, pneumothorax or primarily cavitatory lesions.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, St. Elisabeth Hospital, Tilburg, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Madan
authors.forename: W J
authors.initials: WJ
authors.lastname: van Rooij
authors.forename: M C
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Verpalen
mesh_terms: D001707:Biopsy, Needle / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005069:Evaluation Studies as Topic; D005188:False Negative Reactions; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D013899:Thoracic Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000473:pathology*; D013909:Thorax / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology*; D014463:Ultrasonography / Q000295:instrumentation