CT- Guided Percutaneous Fine-Needle Aspiration Biopsy of Pulmonary Lesions

Transthoracic CT-guided percutaneous fine-needle aspiration biopsy (FNAB) has become a well- established diagnostic technique and been useful in differentiating malignant and benign pulmonary lesions. 505 patients (311 men and 194 women) aged 7-90 years old (mean age 56.2 years) with pulmonary lesions underwent CT-guided transthoracic fine-needle aspiration biopsy.Cytopathologic evaluation of FNAB samples was performed in all patients. In addition, each case was reviewed for complications, including pneumothorax and hemoptysis. Data were analysed using SPSS software for windows ver. 11.5. FNAB samples were adequate for diagnosis in 410 (81.2%) of 505 patients. Two hundred and forty-nine lesions (60.7%0) were malignant, and 161 (39.3%) were benign or atypical. Thirty-four (6.7%) patients had pneumothorax out of which none of them required thoracostomy tube placement. Additionally, hemoptysis was noted in 9 (1.8%) patients and follow-up was carried out. No further complications were reported. CT-guided FNAB of pulmonary lesions can yield well-established diagnoses and it can be useful in the management of patients with suspected lung cancer. (Tanaffos 2006; 5(3): 37-44)