Use of spirometry to predict risk of pneumothorax in CT-guided needle biopsy of the lung.
OBJECTIVE
Our goal was to assess the usefulness of spirometry to estimate the risk of pneumothorax in patients undergoing percutaneous needle biopsy with CT guidance for solitary pulmonary nodule (SPN).


METHODS
We studied the results of 51 consecutive percutaneous needle biopsies with CT guidance for SPN obtained between 1988 and 1990. Forty-five men and six women, aged 65 +/- 11 (36-86) years, were included in the study. All biopsies were performed under CT guidance, with 90 mm 25G needles (0.5 mm thickness) fitted into luer-type syringes. The number of needle pass attempts never exceeded three. A spirometry before biopsy was performed in all patients.


RESULTS
Pneumothorax occurred in only 10 cases (19%). The patients with pneumothorax showed lower lesion size, forced vital capacity (FVC), forced expiratory volume (FEV1), and FEV1/FVC ratio. The contribution of these factors to pneumothorax was analyzed by a logistic regression model. The FEV1 was most strongly associated with the incidence of pneumothorax. We developed an equation for predicting the risk of this complication.


CONCLUSIONS
We conclude that decreasing FEV1 is associated with a higher pneumothorax rate.
García-Río
F
F
Service of Respiratory Diseases, La Paz Hospital, School of Medicine, Autonoma University, Madrid, Spain.
Pino
J M
JM
Casadevall
J
J
Gómez
L
L
Atienza
J M
JM
Díaz-Lobato
S
S
Villamor
J
J
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001707:Biopsy, Needle / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005541:Forced Expiratory Volume; D005544:Forecasting; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009339:Needles / Q000009:adverse effects; D011030:Pneumothorax / Q000209:etiology*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012372:ROC Curve; D015641:Radiography, Interventional; D012307:Risk Factors; D003074:Solitary Pulmonary Nodule / Q000473:pathology*; D013147:Spirometry; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D014797:Vital Capacity