CT-guided percutaneous core needle biopsy in oncology outpatients: sensitivity, specificity, complications.
BACKGROUND
Inpatient CT-guided core needle biopsies are an integral diagnostic method to obtain a histology from lesions of unknown dignity in oncology. The purpose of this study was to evaluate feasibility, sensitivity, specificity, and complication rate of diagnostic CT-guided percutaneous core needle biopsies in oncology outpatients.


METHODS
We retrospectively analyzed data of all oncology outpatients who received CT-guided core needle biopsies between August 2001 and March 2005.


RESULTS
432 outpatients received 465 CT-guided core needle biopsies using a 14-, 16-, or 18-gauge coaxial cutting needle. 174 patients (37%) were biopsied for intra-abdominal lesions, 130 (28%) for intrathoracic lesions, 55 (12%) for bone lesions, 40 (9%) for peripheral tumors, 36 (8%) for peripheral lymph nodes, and 30 (7%) for central lymph nodes. 249 (53%) biopsies were performed in local anesthesia, 216 (47%) in general anesthesia. Sensitivity was 94%, specificity 92%, and effective accuracy 92%. Complications occurred after 23 biopsies (4.9%). A pneumothorax occurred after 17 thorax biopsies (13%). 7 patients (1.5%) had to be hospitalized after the biopsy. No patient died due to the procedure.


CONCLUSIONS
CT-guided core needle biopsies are feasible and safe in oncology outpatients. The technique shows a high diagnostic sensitivity and specificity with a low complication rate in routine care.
Radiologisches Institut, Hohenzollernstrasse 64, Koblenz, Germany. info@radiologie-koblenz.de
Sebastian
S
Steil
Sebastian
S
Zerwas
Georg
G
Moos
Fernando
F
Bittinger
Torsten
T
Hansen
Ulrike
U
Mergenthaler
Rudolf
R
Weide
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001707:Biopsy, Needle / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D005858:Germany / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000473:pathology*; D011030:Pneumothorax / Q000453:epidemiology*; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000453:epidemiology*; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D018570:Risk Assessment / Q000379:methods; D012307:Risk Factors; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D025321:Surgery, Computer-Assisted / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D055815:Young Adult