[CT-guided needle biopsy of the lung: factors affecting risk of complications].
OBJECTIVE
To analyze factors influencing the risk of complications associated with CT-guided percutaneous needle biopsy for lung lesions.


METHODS
Sixty patients, aged 24-85 years (37 men and 23 women), underwent CT-guided needle biopsy. A definite diagnosis was made in 49 of 60 cases (81.7%), including 38 of 43 malignant lesions (88.4%) and 11 of 17 benign lesions (64.7%). Complications associated with biopsy were observed in 35 patients (58.3%). Major complications included pneumothorax (n = 26) and pulmonary hemorrhage (n = 20). Chest tube placement was needed in 5 (19.2%) of 26 pneumothorax cases (8.3% of all biopsies).


RESULTS
The high frequency of pneumothorax (43.3%) in this series had several contributing factors, including the presence of pulmonary emphysema, lesion size, and traversal of aerated lung. Chest tube replacement was necessary more frequently in patients with pulmonary emphysema. The number of pleural passes, location of lesions, and size of needles were not correlated with the incidence of pneumothorax.


CONCLUSIONS
The presence of pulmonary emphysema, lesion size, and traversal of aerated lung are the predominant risk factors for pneumothorax in patients with CT-guided lung biopsy.
Department of Radiology, Nagasaki University School of Medicine.
A
A
Fukushima
K
K
Ashizawa
N
N
Aso
M
M
Takao
H
H
Hayashi
K
K
Nagaoki
I
I
Sakamoto
K
K
Hayashi
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001707:Biopsy, Needle / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008168:Lung / Q000473:pathology*; D008171:Lung Diseases / Q000473:pathology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011030:Pneumothorax / Q000209:etiology*; D011656:Pulmonary Emphysema / Q000209:etiology*; D012306:Risk; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed