The effect of the number of needle maneuver in the lung and the number of pleural punctures on the formation of pneumothorax, a complication of lung transthoracic core needle biopsy

Abstract

Aim This study sought to investigate the effect of the needle maneuver count and number of pleural punctures on pneumothorax in CT-guided transthoracic core needle biopsy. Materials and Methods Records of CT-guided core needle biopsy performed on patients were retrospectively reviewed. Demographic data, procedure reports, pathology reports, tomography images, follow-up examinations, and complications due to biopsy were examined. Next, the number of times the needle penetrated the pleura and the number of maneuvers in the lung were listed. The number of pleural punctures was recorded either as 1 or ≥2. The needle maneuver count was recorded either as 1, 2, or ≥3. All listed variables were statistically evaluated. Results A total of 393 patients were included in the study. Complications of pneumothorax occurred in 87 (22.1%) patients. A thorax tube application due to pneumothorax was required in 39 (9.9%) patients. When the needle maneuver count in the lungs during biopsy was greater than 3, the incidence of pneumothorax and the need for a thorax tube application were increased (p = 0.001). As the size of the lesion decreased and the lesion-pleura distance increased, the needle maneuver count in the lung increased (p = 0.001, p = 0.008). Pneumothorax and thorax tube application rates were increased in 48 patients with pleural punctures ≥2 (p = 0.001, p = 0.001). Conclusion In CT-guided pulmonary transthoracic core needle biopsy applications, needle maneuver count and the number of pleural punctures constitute the major factors contributing to the risk of developing pneumothorax.

Keywords

• pnömotoraks
• akciğer kanseri
• transtorasik biyopsi
• akciğer biyopsisi
• pneumothorax
• lung cancer
• transthoracic biopsy
• lung biopsy