Fatal air embolism as a complication of CT-guided needle biopsy of the lung.
A CT-guided needle lung biopsy carries a risk of potential air embolization. We present a rare case of air embolization after this procedure. Postmortem CT revealed air in the cerebral arteries and the left ventricle. This complication is extremely rare; however, it becomes fatal when it happens. Several points to prevent this fatal complication are discussed.
Kodama
F
F
Department of Radiology, Faculty of Medicine, Tottori University, Japan.
Ogawa
T
T
Hashimoto
M
M
Tanabe
Y
Y
Suto
Y
Y
Kato
T
T
D001707:Biopsy, Needle / Q000009:adverse effects*; D002552:Cerebral Ventricles / Q000473:pathology; D014695:Cerebral Ventriculography; D004618:Embolism, Air / Q000209:etiology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D017809:Fatal Outcome; D006801:Humans; D020766:Intracranial Embolism / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology; D008168:Lung / Q000473:pathology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015641:Radiography, Interventional; D012307:Risk Factors; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed