Radiology Case Reports (Apr 2024)

Air embolism as a rare complication of lung biopsy: A case report

  • Federica Ricciardella,
  • Gianluca Mannetta,
  • Valentina Caruso,
  • Giulio Cocco,
  • Cesare Mantini,
  • Eleonora Piccirilli,
  • Massimo Caulo,
  • Andrea Delli Pizzi

Journal volume & issue
Vol. 19, no. 4
pp. 1547 – 1551

Abstract

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Lung biopsy is an important interventional radiology procedure allowing the characterization of lesions with suspected malignancy. The most frequent complications are pneumothorax and hemorrhage. Air embolism is a rare but potentially fatal occurrence. In this case report, we present an air embolism after core needle CT-guided biopsy showing CT and MRI features that radiologists should expect in the everyday clinical practice.

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