title: Ultrasonographically guided fine-needle aspiration biopsy of intrathoracic tumors.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Esbjerg Central Hospital, Denmark.
authors.forename: D U
authors.initials: DU
authors.lastname: Knudsen
authors.forename: S M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Nielsen
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Hariri
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Christensen
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kristensen
mesh_terms: 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