title: The role of ultrasound-guided aspiration biopsy of peripheral pulmonary nodules: our experience.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Peripheral lung lesions are difficult to diagnose with conventional methods: ultrasound-guided aspiration biopsy is an interesting prospect having been reported to have good sensitivity and specificity.
  
  
  METHODS
  From January 1991 to August 2001 we investigated, in 268 patients, the role of ultrasound-guided transthoracic fine needle aspiration for cytological diagnosis of peripheral lung lesions. Nodule sizes ranged from 1 to 10 cm.
  
  
  RESULTS
  From 268 patients, we obtained 174 positive specimens for malignancy, of which 155 were positive for primary lung tumors and 19 for metastasis; 76 negative; 9 inadequate; and 9 aspecific. One patient developed pneumothorax after needle aspiration and one patient emophtoe. The nodule size did not affect complication rate and diagnostic outcome.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This diagnostic procedure appears to be effective, safe and feasible, even in bedridden patients. The cost is low (70Euro), the examination is fast (5-6 minutes) and well-tolerated and, if the specimen is inadequate or non-specific, it is possible to repeat the examination. Ultrasound-guided aspiration biopsy can replace the TC-guided biopsy in patients with peripheral lung nodules.
authors.affiliation: Unità Operativa di Oncologia Medica, Azienda Ospedaliera Universitaria G. Martino, Messina, Italy.
authors.forename: Claudio
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Scisca
authors.forename: Massimo
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Rizzo
authors.forename: Roberto
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Maisano
authors.forename: Maurizio
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Monaco
authors.forename: Michele
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ferrari
authors.forename: Stefania
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Munaò
authors.forename: Maria
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Zavettieri
authors.forename: Orsola
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Bonaffini
authors.forename: Marzia
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mare
authors.forename: Raffaele Talamo
authors.initials: RT
authors.lastname: Rossi
authors.forename: Francesco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: La Torre
mesh_terms: D001707:Biopsy, Needle / Q000379:methods*; D002289:Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung / Q000145:classification / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology; D018288:Carcinoma, Small Cell / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology*; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D003074:Solitary Pulmonary Nodule / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology*; D014463:Ultrasonography / Q000379:methods*