title: Transcutaneous needle biopsy of the lung.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the usefulness of transcutaneous needle biopsy (TCNB).
  
  
  METHODS
  From May 1988 to December 1994, we performed TCNB under fluoroscopic control in 408 patients with mass lesions of the peripheral lung. The Surecut needle (1.5 mm) was selected mainly because of its ability to obtain specimens large enough for histological examination. Of the 408 patients, 286 had had previous bronchofiberscopic examinations but no definite diagnosis had been reached.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A definite diagnosis was obtained by TCNB in 305 (74.7%) of 408 cases (251 malignant neoplasms, 54 benign lesions). In malignant neoplasms, the pathological diagnosis based on cytology and histology together was more reliable than that based on cytology alone. Although the complications of this procedure (such as pneumothorax) were within the range of acceptability, care should be taken to avoid air embolism and the seeding of cancer cells along the needle tract.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  TCNB with the Surecut needle is a useful procedure with relatively low risk.
authors.affiliation: Second Department of Internal Medicine, Osaka Prefectural Habikino Hospital, Japan.
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Komiya
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Kusunoki
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kobayashi
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Hirashima
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Yana
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Masuda
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Matsui
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Takada
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Nakagawa
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Kotake
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Yasumitsu
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kikui
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Kawase
mesh_terms: D001707:Biopsy, Needle / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D003951:Diagnostic Errors; D005069:Evaluation Studies as Topic; D006801:Humans; D008168:Lung / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology*; D008171:Lung Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology; D009339:Needles; D013902:Radiography, Thoracic