Ultrasonographically guided fine-needle aspiration biopsy of intrathoracic tumors.
OBJECTIVE
Evaluation of diagnostic accuracy and complication frequency at ultrasonographically guided fine-needle aspiration biopsy of intrathoracic tumors.


METHODS
A total of 134 ultrasonographically guided percutaneous fine-needle aspiration biopsies were performed on 128 patients with intrathoracic tumors abutting on the pleura. A cytologic diagnosis was obtained in 119 patients (93%).


RESULTS
In 83 patients, cytologic malignancy was found; in 34, benignity; and in 2, cellular atypia. A total of 117 diagnoses were correct and 2 diagnoses were false-positive. A malignancy subtyping based on the cytologic aspirates was made in 80 patients. In 40 (93%) of 43 histologically proven subtypes, the subtyping was correct. The complication frequency in terms of pneumothorax was 3.7%.


CONCLUSIONS
Ultrasonographically guided percutaneous fine-needle aspiration biopsy is a safe and reliable method of establishing the cytologic diagnosis of intrathoracic tumors.
Knudsen
D U
DU
Department of Radiology, Esbjerg Central Hospital, Denmark.
Nielsen
S M
SM
Hariri
J
J
Christensen
J
J
Kristensen
S
S
D001707:Biopsy, Needle / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods; D002283:Carcinoma, Bronchogenic / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000473:pathology; D005069:Evaluation Studies as Topic; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008168:Lung / Q000473:pathology*; D008171:Lung Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000473:pathology; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000473:pathology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D014463:Ultrasonography