title: CT-Guided Percutaneous Transthoracic Needle Biopsies Using 10G Large-Core Needles: Initial Experience.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Using large-core biopsy needles in CT-guided percutaneous transthoracic needle biopsies (PTNB) may be advantageous in terms of larger specimens, which facilitate more extensive histopathological, immunohistochemical, and molecular examination of tumor tissue. The aim of this study was to evaluate the success rate and safety in CT-guided PTNB using 10G large-core biopsy needles.
  
  
  METHODS
  35 patients with intrathoracic lesions suspected of malignancy underwent CT-guided PTNB using dedicated large-core biopsy needles (10G Spirotome™, Medinvents, Hasselt, Belgium). Location, tumor size, number of pleural passes, number of biopsies, histologic result, and complications (pneumothorax, bleeding) were recorded.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Lesion location varied from pleural to hilar location. Mean tumor size was 3.5 cm (range 0.7-9.2 cm). Only one pleural passage was necessary in all patients. Mean distance from the pleura to the lesion was 2.6 cm (max 9.2 cm). Large-core biopsy (10G) was successful in 88.6%. Pneumothorax was found in 40%. Minor intraparenchymal bleeding was present in 14 patients. No major complications were recorded.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Large-core biopsy with 10G did not show higher complication rates compared to literature. It is technically feasible and safe. The obtained larger specimens may especially be helpful for the increasing demands of extensive molecular analysis for stratified patient care.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Maastricht University Medical Center, P. Debyelaan 25, PO Box 5800, 6202 AZ, Maastricht, The Netherlands. ulrichlalji@gmail.com.|GROW School of Oncology and Developmental Biology, Maastricht University Medical Center, P. Debyelaan 25, PO Box 5800, 6202 Z, Maastricht, The Netherlands. ulrichlalji@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Ulrich C
authors.initials: UC
authors.lastname: Lalji
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Maastricht University Medical Center, P. Debyelaan 25, PO Box 5800, 6202 AZ, Maastricht, The Netherlands.|GROW School of Oncology and Developmental Biology, Maastricht University Medical Center, P. Debyelaan 25, PO Box 5800, 6202 Z, Maastricht, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Joachim E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Wildberger
authors.affiliation: GROW School of Oncology and Developmental Biology, Maastricht University Medical Center, P. Debyelaan 25, PO Box 5800, 6202 Z, Maastricht, The Netherlands.|Department of Pathology, Maastricht University Medical Center, P. Debyelaan 25, PO Box 5800, 6202 AZ, Maastricht, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Axel
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Zur Hausen
authors.affiliation: GROW School of Oncology and Developmental Biology, Maastricht University Medical Center, P. Debyelaan 25, PO Box 5800, 6202 Z, Maastricht, The Netherlands.|Department of Pathology, Maastricht University Medical Center, P. Debyelaan 25, PO Box 5800, 6202 AZ, Maastricht, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Matyas
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bendek
authors.affiliation: GROW School of Oncology and Developmental Biology, Maastricht University Medical Center, P. Debyelaan 25, PO Box 5800, 6202 Z, Maastricht, The Netherlands.|Department of Pulmonology, Maastricht University Medical Center, P. Debyelaan 25, PO Box 5800, 6202 AZ, Maastricht, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Anne-Marie C
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Dingemans
authors.affiliation: GROW School of Oncology and Developmental Biology, Maastricht University Medical Center, P. Debyelaan 25, PO Box 5800, 6202 Z, Maastricht, The Netherlands.|Department of Pulmonology, Maastricht University Medical Center, P. Debyelaan 25, PO Box 5800, 6202 AZ, Maastricht, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Monique
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hochstenbag
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Maastricht University Medical Center, P. Debyelaan 25, PO Box 5800, 6202 AZ, Maastricht, The Netherlands. m.das@mumc.nl.|GROW School of Oncology and Developmental Biology, Maastricht University Medical Center, P. Debyelaan 25, PO Box 5800, 6202 Z, Maastricht, The Netherlands. m.das@mumc.nl.
authors.forename: Marco
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Das
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D062005:Biopsy, Large-Core Needle / Q000295:instrumentation; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D061705:Image-Guided Biopsy / Q000295:instrumentation; D008297:Male; D009339:Needles; D015641:Radiography, Interventional; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed
keywords: Biopsy; Computed tomography (CT); Image-guided biopsy; Interventional radiology; Large-core needle; Lung neoplasms; Pneumothorax