Computed tomography-guided transthoracic needle aspiration biopsy of intrapulmonary lesions: utility of a liquid-based cytopreparatory technique.
OBJECTIVE
To determine if a ThinPrep processor (Cytyc Corporation, Boxborough, Massachusetts, U.S.A.) could be used to improve diagnostic accuracy in the absence of a cytopathologist at the time of computed tomography-guided (CT-guided) transthoracic needle aspiration biopsy (TNAB) of the lung.


METHODS
Ninety-two patients (59 men and 33 women who were 26-85 years old) underwent CT-guided TNAB. The aspirated specimen was prepared with the ThinPrep cytopreparatory technique for cytologic evaluation. The final histologic diagnoses were based on the pathologic material obtained from a cutting needle biopsy, bronchoscopic biopsy and surgical excision and the on clinical follow-up (mean, 12 months). On this basis, the accuracy, sensitivity and specificity of TNAB for malignant lesions were calculated by comparing the diagnoses obtained from percutaneous transthoracic needle aspiration with the final diagnoses using a chi2 test. was made, 56 (60.9%) were malignant and 36 (39.1%) benign. The diagnostic accuracy, sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value and negative predictive value for the diagnosis of malignancy were 92%, 87.5%, 100%, 100% and 80%, respectively.


CONCLUSIONS
CT-guided TNAB using ThinPrep provided excellent diagnostic accuracy and was useful because this technique shows less air-drying artifact and can separate cells and blood clots on the slides.
Lee
Young Sun
YS
Department of Diagnostic Radiology, Research Institute of Clinical Medicine, Chonbuk National University Hospital, Chonbuk National University College of Medicine, Jeonbuk, South Korea.
Jin
Gong Yong
GY
Han
Young Min
YM
Chung
Myoung Ja
MJ
Park
Ho Sung
HS
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001707:Biopsy, Needle / Q000379:methods*; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008171:Lung Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed / Q000379:methods*