title: CT-guided large-bore biopsy: extrapleural injection of saline for safe transpleural access to pulmonary lesions.
abstract: A new technique was applied to improve safety for large-bore biopsies of subpleural pulmonary lesions. In 27 patients, normal saline solution (20-40 ml) was injected extrapleurally under CT-guidance in the access route to subpleurally situated lung lesions. Thickness of ventilated lung interposed between the target and the parietal pleural was up to 8 mm (mean: 4.1 mm). The injected fluid resulted in an extrapleural bulge that abutted the lesion to be biopsied. Biopsy with the 14-gauge Trucut needle did not result in pneumothorax in all cases. There were no complications associated with this technique. Extrapleural injection of saline may provide a safe access route to selected pulmonary lesions for CT-guided large-bore transthoracic biopsies.
authors.affiliation: Department of Diagnostic Radiology, University of Technology, Aachen, Federal Republic of Germany.
authors.forename: K C
authors.initials: KC
authors.lastname: Klose
mesh_terms: D001707:Biopsy, Needle / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008168:Lung / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology*; D008171:Lung Diseases / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011030:Pneumothorax / Q000517:prevention & control*; D012965:Sodium Chloride; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed
chemical_list: D012965:Sodium Chloride