title: CT-guided biopsy of thoracic lesions with a novel wire-based needle guide device - initial experiences.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Biopsies guided by computed tomography (CT) play an important role in clinical practice. A short duration, minimal radiation dose and complication rate are of particular interest. Purpose To evaluate the potential of a novel self-manufactured wire-based needle guide device for CT-guided thoracic biopsies with respect to radiation dose, intervention time and complication rate.
  
  
  METHODS
  Forty patients that underwent CT-guided biopsies of thoracic lesions were included in this study and assigned to two groups. Patients in group A (n = 20, mean age 69 ± 8.4 years) underwent biopsies with a novel wire-based needle guide device, while patients in group B (n = 20, mean age 68.4 ± 10.1 years) were biopsied without a needle guide device. The novel self-manufactured needle guide device consists of an iron/zinc wire modelled to a ring with a flexible arm and an eye at the end of the arm to stabilize the biopsy needle in the optimal position during intervention. Predefined parameters (radiation dose, number of acquired CT-slices, duration of intervention, complications) were compared between both groups.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Mean radiation dose (CTDIvol 192 mGy versus 541 mGy; P ≤ 0.001) and the number of acquired slices during intervention (n = 49 ± 33 vs. n = 126 ± 78; P ≤ 0.001) were significantly lower in group A compared with group B. Intervention time in group A (13.1 min) was significantly lower than in group B (18.5 min, P < 0.01). A pneumothorax as peri-interventional complication was observed less frequent after device assisted biopsies (n = 4 vs. n = 8, n.s.).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The novel wire-based needle guide device is a promising tool to facilitate CT-guided thoracic biopsies reducing radiation dose, intervention time, and related complications. Further studies are mandatory to confirm these initial results.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Medical Faculty, University Düsseldorf, Germany. Patric.Kroepil@med.uni-duesseldorf.de
authors.forename: Patric
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Kröpil
authors.forename: Philip
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Bilk
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Quentin
authors.forename: Falk R
authors.initials: FR
authors.lastname: Miese
authors.forename: Rotem S
authors.initials: RS
authors.lastname: Lanzman
authors.forename: Axel
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Scherer
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D001707:Biopsy, Needle / Q000295:instrumentation*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008171:Lung Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology*; D008297:Male; D008477:Mediastinal Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology*; D011829:Radiation Dosage; D015641:Radiography, Interventional / Q000295:instrumentation*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013997:Time Factors; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed / Q000295:instrumentation*