CT-guided transthoracic fine needle aspiration of XXXX : accuracy and complications in 134 cases.

@entity1 @entity358 @entity5
The aim of this study was to perform a prospective evaluation of the effectiveness of computed tomography (CT)-guided transthoracic fine needle aspiration (TFNA) in the diagnosis of @entity358 and to determine the complication rate of this procedure. A prospective review was conducted of 134 @entity1 who underwent CT-guided TFNA at our center between December 2003 and August 2005. All fine needle aspirations were performed with a 22-gauge single-pass Chiba needle under CT guidance. The biopsies were performed by one pulmonologist. Two hundred twenty two (91%) malignant lesions and 12 (9%) benign lesions were reviewed in the present study. An accurate diagnosis was made in 107 (88%) of the 122 @entity358 and a specific diagnosis was obtained in 42% of the benign lesions. The sensitivity of TFNAs for the detection of @entity5 was 83%, and the overall accuracy of TFNA for diagnosing @entity5 was 84%. Pneumothorax occurred in 22 of the 134 @entity1 (16%). Pneumothorax was more frequently observed in centrally located lesions (p= 0.001). Our results suggest that CT-guided TFNA has a high diagnostic accuracy and an acceptable rate of complications. Moreover, we suggest that the most important factor increasing the risk of pneumothorax is an increase in the depth of aerated lung traversed for sampling.
