title: CT-guided core biopsy of malignant lung lesions: how many needle passes are needed?
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The study aims to determine the number of needle pass in the CT-guided core needle biopsy (CNB) in making a diagnosis of pulmonary malignancy.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 434 CNB records were retrospectively reviewed. The specimen obtained from each needle pass was put in a formalin container and then labelled for separate histopathological reporting. The patients were divided into five groups according to the total number of needle passes (n = 1, n = 2, n = 3, n = 4 and n ≥ 5). In each of the groups 2-4, it was analysed how many needle passes are required before a plateau in diagnostic yield is achieved.
  
  
  RESULTS
  CNB produced 283 true-positive and 23 false-negative diagnosis of malignancy. Cumulative sensitivity significantly (P < 0.05) increased between the first and second as well as the second and the third (if done) needle passes, but not between the third and fourth ones.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Three coaxial needle passes might be optimal in the diagnosis of lung malignancy.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Seoul St Mary's Hospital, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Chaehun
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Lim
authors.forename: Kyo Young
authors.initials: KY
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Young Kyoon
authors.initials: YK
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Jeong Min
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Ko
authors.forename: Dae Hee
authors.initials: DH
authors.lastname: Han
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D062005:Biopsy, Large-Core Needle / Q000379:methods / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005188:False Negative Reactions; D006801:Humans; D061705:Image-Guided Biopsy / Q000379:methods / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000473:pathology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D056910:Republic of Korea / Q000453:epidemiology; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed / Q000379:methods / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: body CT; chest imaging; intervention; non-vascular interventional radiology