title: Computed tomography guided needle biopsy: experience from 1,300 procedures.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Computed tomography (CT) guided biopsy is widely accepted as effective and safe for diagnosis in many settings. Accuracy depends on target organ and needle type. Cutting needles present advantages over fine needles. This study presents experience from CT guided biopsies performed at an oncology center.
  
  
  METHODS
  Retrospective study at Hospital do Câncer A. C. Camargo, São Paulo.
  
  
  METHODS
  1,300 consecutive CT guided biopsies performed between July 1994 and February 2000 were analyzed. Nodules or masses were suspected as primary malignancy in 845 cases (65%) or metastatic lesion in 455 (35%). 628 lesions were thoracic, 281 abdominal, 208 retroperitoneal, 134 musculoskeletal and 49 head/neck. All biopsies were performed by one radiologist or under his supervision: 765 (59%) with 22-gauge fine-needle/aspiration technique and 535 (41%) with automated 16 or 18-gauge cutting-needle biopsy.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Adequate samples were obtained in 70-92% of fine-needle and 93-100% of cutting-needle biopsies. The specific diagnosis rates were 54-67% for fine-needle and 82-100% for cutting-needle biopsies, according to biopsy site. For any site, sample adequacy and specific diagnosis rate were always better for cutting-needle biopsy. Among 530 lung biopsies, there were 84 pneumothorax (16%) and two hemothorax (0.3%) cases, with thoracic drainage in 24 (4.9%). Among abdominal and retroperitoneal biopsies, there were two cases of major bleeding and one of peritonitis.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Both types of needle showed satisfactory results, but cutting-needle biopsy should be used when specific diagnosis is desired without greater incidence of complications.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Hospital do Câncer A. C. Camargo, São Paulo, Brazil. chojniak@uol.com.br
authors.forename: Rubens
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Chojniak
authors.forename: Rony Klaus
authors.initials: RK
authors.lastname: Isberner
authors.forename: Luciana Marinho
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Viana
authors.forename: Liao Shin
authors.initials: LS
authors.lastname: Yu
authors.forename: Alessandro Amorim
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Aita
authors.forename: Fernando Augusto
authors.initials: FA
authors.lastname: Soares
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D044963:Biopsy, Fine-Needle / Q000379:methods*; D002173:Cancer Care Facilities / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009339:Needles; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology*; D015641:Radiography, Interventional / Q000379:methods; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed