title: CT/fluoroscopy-guided transthoracic needle biopsy: sensitivity and complication rate in 98 procedures.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The purpose of this study was to evaluate CT/fluoroscopy (CTF)-guided core needle biopsies (CNBs) in the thorax.
  
  
  METHODS
  Ninety-eight biopsies were performed using a core biopsy needle (18G) with a reusable biopsy gun under CT/F. All results were compared to surgery plus histology or to clinical follow-up of >12 months. Sensitivity, specificity, and negative predictive value (NPV) were calculated.
  
  
  RESULTS
  For pulmonary biopsies, sensitivity was 94%, specificity 100%, and NPV 73%; no significant correlation between the pneumothorax rate and the intrathoracic penetration depth was found. For biopsies of the mediastinum and pleura, sensitivities were 87 and 80%, respectively; specificity was 100% in both locations. A pneumothorax occurred in 21%, a pneumothorax requiring drainage in 2.0%.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  CT/F-guided CNB is a reliable method to obtain thoracic biopsies, with a complication rate of 2.0%.
authors.affiliation: Institute for Clinical Radiology, University of Munich-Grosshadern, Munich, Germany.
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Muehlstaedt
authors.forename: Roland
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Bruening
authors.forename: Joachim
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Diebold
authors.forename: Almuth
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Mueller
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Helmberger
authors.forename: Maximilian
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Reiser
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001707:Biopsy, Needle / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D005471:Fluoroscopy / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D008171:Lung Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008477:Mediastinal Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology; D008875:Middle Aged; D011030:Pneumothorax / Q000209:etiology; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D013909:Thorax / Q000473:pathology*; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed / Q000379:methods*