Thoracic Cancer (Jun 2022)
Marked safety and high diagnostic yield of freehand ultrasound‐guided core‐needle biopsies performed by pulmonologists
Abstract
Abstract Background Adequate tissue sampling is fundamental for establishing a definitive diagnosis, assessing prognosis and tailoring therapy. Each of the methods for obtaining tissue (e.g., endoscopic, image guidance and surgical biopsies) results in a different diagnostic yield and complication rate profile. Objectives Present feasibility, and assess safety and efficacy of freehand transthoracic ultrasound‐guided core‐needle biopsies (USGNB) of thoracic lesions performed by pulmonologist. Methods A retrospective analysis study of ultrasound‐guided core‐needle biopsies of thoracic lesions performed at the Pulmonary Institute of Rabin Medical Center was conducted from September 2020 to October 2021. All core‐needle biopsies were performed under local anesthesia with guidance of Mindray TE7 2019 US system. Procedural variables including complications and pathological diagnostic yield were the primary end point. IRB 0671‐21‐RMC. Results In total 91 biopsy procedures were analyzed in38 females and 53 males, average age 71.1 years. Twenty‐three (25.3%) cases were lung lesions, 7 (7.7%) – mediastinal, 13 (14.3%) – chest wall, 27 (29.7%) – pleural, and 21 (23.1%) supraclavicular lesions. Average lesion size was 51.6 mm, the largest in the mediastinum and the smallest in supraclavicular locations (97.7mm and 28.0 mm, respectively). Overall pathological diagnostic yield was 90%, highest success in chest wall (100%) and lowest in mediastinal biopsies (71.4%). We had only one complication –hemothorax resolved by chest tube drainage‐ accounting for only 1.1% complication rate. Conclusion Safety and efficacy were demonstrated in freehand US‐guided core‐needle biopsy of thoracic lesions performed by pulmonologists. We suggest thoracic ultrasound and USG‐CNB be part of training and clinical practice in interventional pulmonology.
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