title: [CT-guided punctures: diagnostic value, therapeutic consequences and economic aspects].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the diagnostic and clinical relevance and therapeutic consequences of CT-guided biopsy with regard to economic aspects.
  
  
  METHODS
  213 CT-guided biopsies in 190 patients were evaluated. All information regarding patient referral, reason for request, body region, underlying diagnosis, and clinical consequences were registered over a period of 22.2 +/- 9.4 month.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Patient referral to biopsy was mainly from the departments of surgery, internal medicine, and radiotherapy with the question of tumor and metastasis. Less than 5% of biopsies were performed in outpatients. Main regions were the lung (39%), the abdomen (35%), and the skeleton (11%). Biopsy and surgical histology corresponded in 73%. Largest diagnosis groups were benign unspecific tissues or other benign lesions in 24%. As a result of CTP no further procedures were necessary in 22.5%. Follow-up studies or conservative treatment were indicated in 11.3%. Surgical procedures were needed in only 15.5%. There was only one complication requiring therapy.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  CT-guided biopsy is a safe procedure, which helps to avoid unneccessary cost-intensive diagnostics and surgical treatment. If CTP is performed early and in outpatients residence time in the hospital is reduced and thus money is saved.
authors.affiliation: Klinik für Radiologische Diagnostik der Christian-Albrechts-Universität zu Kiel.
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Schwarzenberg
authors.lastname: St Müller-Hülsbeck
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Link
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Brossmann
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Fahl
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Quirin
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Heller
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001706:Biopsy / Q000191:economics / Q000295:instrumentation*; D001707:Biopsy, Needle / Q000191:economics / Q000295:instrumentation; D003362:Cost-Benefit Analysis; D004322:Drainage / Q000191:economics / Q000295:instrumentation*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011677:Punctures / Q000191:economics / Q000295:instrumentation*; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed / Q000191:economics / Q000295:instrumentation*; D016896:Treatment Outcome