Outpatient needle biopsy of the lung: its safety and utility.

摘要: Four hundred forty-seven needle biopsies of the lung were carried out on 348 patients in a nonhospital outpatient setting. There no fatalities or serious complications. A reliable working diagnosis was obtained 74% (86% true positive for malignancy). Diagnostic thoracotomy avoided 31%, and diagnostic interval shortened most. Impressive economic benefits resulted. Careful postbiopsy evaluation revealed pneumothorax 41% patients, with 10% requiring chest tube drainage, usually an ambulatory basis. With management infrequent complications by radiologist, biopsy can be safe, reliable, highly cost effective.