title: "Oblique path"--the optimal needle path for computed tomography-guided biopsy of small subpleural lesions.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Dokkyo Medical College Koshigaya Hospital, 2-1-50 Minami-Koshigaya, Koshigaya-City, Saitama, 343 Japan.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Tanaka
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Sonomura
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Shioyama
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Kutsukake
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Tomita
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Ushimi
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Yokoyama
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Abe
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Suzuki
mesh_terms: 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