Transthoracic lung biopsy for pulmonary nodules ≤20 mm in routine clinical care

Abstract

Background Computed tomography (CT) screening has improved lung cancer survival, yet increasingly detects small lung lesions. Thus, the number of transthoracic lung biopsies (TTLB) for small nodules is expected to rise significantly. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the diagnostic accuracy and safety of CT-guided TTLB for nodules ≤20 mm versus nodules >20 mm. Study design and methods Data for CT-guided TTLBs from 474 consecutive patients were prospectively collected over a 3-year period (198 lesions ≤20 mm and 276 lesions >20 mm) in a teaching hospital and analysed in terms of diagnostic performance and complications. Results There were more conclusive biopsies in the >20 mm lesion group (n=236, 85.5%) than in ≤20 mm lesion group (n=140, 70.7%; p20 mm lesions. Pneumothorax requiring drainage was significantly more common for ≤20 mm lesions, compared to TTLB of larger lesions (9.6% versus 4.3%; p=0.02). Prolonged hospital stay due to pneumothorax occurred in 27 (17.4%) TTLBs of ≤20 mm lesions and 15 (7%) TTLBs of >20 mm lesions (p=0.002). There were no deaths. The only variable significantly associated with diagnostic failure in the ≤20 mm lesion group was the radiologist's experience. Interpretation TTLBs for lesions ≤20 mm were associated with slightly lower diagnostic performance, whereas the higher rate of major complications was still inferior to that extrapolated from United States insurance databases.