Evaluation of thoracic diseases with computed tomography guided biopsy

Computed tomography (CT) guided percutaneous procedures like the fine needle aspiration cytology (FNAC) and fine needle aspiration biopsy (FNAB) are reliable techniques for diagnosing various thoracic diseases. These modalities are used for diagnosis in suspicious lung, pleural, mediastinal and vertebral and pulmonary lesions.

The aim. We conducted a study in a Pulmonary Medicine Department of tertiary care hospital to study the efficacy and safety of CT guided FNCA/FNAB in thoracic diseases.

Methods. A retrospective study was conducted at a tertiary care center with Information and Ethics committee permission within a total duration of two years. The study included patients presenting with following: 1) mediastinal mass lesions, 2) pulmonary solitary pulmonary nodules/masses, 3) pulmonary cavity, cyst and consolidation of undiagnosed etiology, 4) pleural mass, nodules, loculated collections, 5) extra-pulmonary and spinal tuberculosis suspects with pre/paravertebral abscess. Procedure details, radiological images and pathological and microbiological reports were retrieved from case record book of patients available in department.

Results. Study population consisted of 108 patients. Neoplastic diseases were 85 (78.70%) and Non- neoplastic diseases 23 (21.29%). In neoplastic diseases 78.82% patients had lung Cancer of which 85.07% non small cell carcinoma and 14.92% small cell lung cancer. Out of non small cell lung cancer adenocarcinoma of lung was the commonest. The most common non neoplastic diseases was tuberculosis. CT guided biopsy procedure was performed without any complications in 61.11%. The most common complication was pneumothorax (27.77%). The yield of CT guided biopsy was 98.14%.

Conclusion. Percutaneous CT-guided lung biopsy is an effective, highly accurate, and safe method of obtaining tissue for the diagnosis of indeterminate pulmonary lesions especially in neoplastic diseases and tuberculosis.

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