"Oblique path"--the optimal needle path for computed tomography-guided biopsy of small subpleural lesions.
OBJECTIVE
To determine the optimal needle path for computed tomography (CT)-guided biopsy of small lesions just beneath the pleura.


METHODS
A biopsy of 61 subpleural lesions measuring less than 2.5 cm was done prospectively with regard to the approach and the results. One of two needle paths was randomly chosen: a nearly right angle path (n = 30) or an "oblique path" in which the needle was sharply inclined within the slice, using a course nearly parallel to the pleura (n = 32). One lesion was sampled twice. The procedures were considered successful when diagnostic samples were obtained.


RESULTS
The success rate of the oblique path was 81.2% and that of the near 90 degrees path was 43.3% (p < 0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
For percutaneous biopsy of small subpleural lesions under CT guidance, the oblique path is better than the perpendicular path.
Tanaka
J
J
Department of Radiology, Dokkyo Medical College Koshigaya Hospital, 2-1-50 Minami-Koshigaya, Koshigaya-City, Saitama, 343 Japan.
Sonomura
T
T
Shioyama
Y
Y
Kutsukake
Y
Y
Tomita
K
K
Ushimi
T
T
Yokoyama
Y
Y
Abe
K
K
Suzuki
K
K
D001707:Biopsy, Needle / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology*; D010997:Pleural Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology*; D011030:Pneumothorax / Q000209:etiology; D011446:Prospective Studies; D015641:Radiography, Interventional; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed