title: Benefit of Chest Ultrasonography in the Diagnosis of Peripheral Thoracic Lesions in an Interventional Pulmonology Unit.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The use of ultrasound in peripheral thoracic lesions offers advantages over other radiological guiding methods. This diagnostic procedure has been applied in most studies published by radiologists. Our aim was to determine the diagnostic efficacy of percutaneous ultrasound-guided punctures and biopsies of peripheral thoracic lesions performed by pulmonologists.
  
  
  METHODS
  A retrospective analysis of 58 patients who underwent real-time ultrasound-guided transthoracic punctures and biopsy of peripheral thoracic lesions between March 2011 and September 2014 in the pulmonology department of our hospital. Cases were classified into the following diagnostic categories: malignant, benign and non-diagnostic (non-specific benign without evidence of malignancy and insufficient specimen).
  
  
  RESULTS
  A conclusive diagnosis was obtained in 47 procedures (81%), of which 13 (22.4%) were specific benign lesions and 34 (58.6%) cancers. In the remaining 11 (19%) patients, a non-diagnostic result was obtained [non-specific benign in 5 cases (8.6%) and insufficient specimen in 6 (10.3%)]. Sensitivity was 75.6%, negative predictive value was 54.2%, specificity and positive predictive value were 100%, and diagnostic accuracy was 81%. Excluding procedures with insufficient specimens, the results were 87.2%, 72.3%, 100%, 100% and 90.4% respectively. There were no serious complications.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Percutaneous ultrasound-guided puncture and biopsy in the diagnosis of peripheral thoracic lesions performed by pulmonologists is a safe procedure with high diagnostic accuracy. We achieved similar results to those previously obtained by radiologists.
authors.affiliation: Servicio de Neumología, Hospital Universitario y Politécnico La Fe, Valencia, España. Electronic address: garcia_albort@gva.es.
authors.forename: Alberto
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: García-Ortega
authors.affiliation: Servicio de Neumología, Hospital Universitario y Politécnico La Fe, Valencia, España.
authors.forename: Andrés
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Briones-Gómez
authors.affiliation: Servicio de Neumología, Hospital Universitario y Politécnico La Fe, Valencia, España.
authors.forename: Sandra
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Fabregat
authors.affiliation: Servicio de Neumología, Hospital Universitario y Politécnico La Fe, Valencia, España.
authors.forename: Raquel
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Martínez-Tomás
authors.affiliation: Servicio de Neumología, Hospital Universitario y Politécnico La Fe, Valencia, España.
authors.forename: Miguel Ángel
authors.initials: MÁ
authors.lastname: Martínez-García
authors.affiliation: Servicio de Neumología, Hospital Universitario y Politécnico La Fe, Valencia, España.
authors.forename: Enrique
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Cases
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D001706:Biopsy / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D001707:Biopsy, Needle; D003199:Computer Systems; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005260:Female; D006757:Hospital Units; D006801:Humans; D008171:Lung Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D015272:Pulmonary Medicine; D011871:Radiology; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D014160:Transducers, Pressure; D018084:Ultrasonography, Interventional / Q000295:instrumentation
keywords: Biopsia transtorácica; Cáncer de pulmón; Diagnostic yield; Ecografía; Lesiones torácicas periféricas; Lung cancer; Peripheral thoracic lesions; Rentabilidad diagnóstica; Transthoracic biopsy; Ultrasound