[CT-guided biopsy of small lung nodules: usefulness of frozen-section pathologic diagnosis].
OBJECTIVE
To improve the diagnostic accuracy of computed tomography (CT)-guided biopsy of small lung nodules.


METHODS
The usefulness of fine-needle core biopsy combined with immediate frozen-section diagnosis by pathologists was prospectively studied. Forty-six biopsies of small lung nodules (less than 3 cm in greatest diameter) were performed under CT guidance in 46 patients with 31 malignant and 15 benign processes. Initial biopsy was always attempted with a 20 or 21G histological needle; tissue samples were sent to the pathology department immediately after biopsy for pathologic diagnosis of the frozen sections.


RESULTS
In 41 of 46 lesions (89.1%), sufficient material was obtained for diagnosis, permitting a correct final diagnosis. For malignancy, the sensitivity was 100%, whereas 81.8% of the benign lesions were diagnosed as specifically benign. Pneumothorax occurred in 41.3%.


CONCLUSIONS
Histological diagnosis using frozen sections is a useful adjunct for CT-guided biopsy of the chest.
Kitagawa
M
M
Department of Radiology, Fukui Medical School.
Hayashi
N
N
Sakai
T
T
Inagaki
R
R
Ishii
Y
Y
Noriki
S
S
Maegawa
H
H
D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000473:pathology; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001707:Biopsy, Needle / Q000379:methods*; D018287:Carcinoma, Large Cell / Q000473:pathology; D018288:Carcinoma, Small Cell / Q000473:pathology; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000473:pathology; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D005629:Frozen Sections; D006801:Humans; D008168:Lung / Q000473:pathology*; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed