Fine needle aspiration biopsy of dense pulmonary lesions under computed tomography control.
The AIM of this article was to present our experience in the field of invasive diagnosis of dense pulmonary lesions (both benign and malignant). We consider the advantages and shortcomings of this method and the complication frequency (pneumothorax, haemothorax).


METHODS
92 patients (39 women and 53 men, aged between 24-70 years) underwent fine needle aspiration biopsy (FNAB) under computed tomography control (CTC). All biopsies were carried out by cutting needles 19-20G under computed tomography control with GE Sytec 3000 and Somaton Emotion Siemens.


RESULTS
86 biopsies were suitable for both cytological and histological diagnosis and 6 biopsies were suitable for cytological diagnosis alone. In 85 cases the material was obtained at the very first insertion of the biopsy needle while in the other 7 cases correction of the biopsy angle was performed after CT control. Twelve patients had partial pneumothorax as a complication and no haemothorax was registered.


CONCLUSIONS
Under the control of modern CT equipment,when the biopsy needle is chosen correctly, the lesion is marked exactly and the manipulation is performed precisely, it is usually possible to obtain enough material for cytological and histological investigation with low risk of serious complications.
Department of Imaging Diagnostics, Medical University, Plovdiv, Bulgaria.
Maya P
MP
Nedeva-Petkova
Kichka G
KG
Velkova
Antonia I
AI
Nedeva
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D044963:Biopsy, Fine-Needle / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008171:Lung Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011030:Pneumothorax / Q000209:etiology; D011183:Postoperative Complications; D015641:Radiography, Interventional; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed