Percutaneous lung biopsy in a case of suspected lung cancer under control ofcomputed tomography.
Purpose
diagnose lung pathology
Alung biopsy is an interventional procedure performed to diagnoselungpathology by obtaining a small piece of lung which is examined under a microscope.[1][2] Beyond microscopic examination for cellular morphology and architecture, special stains and cultures can be performed on the tissue obtained.[3]
A lung biopsy is performed when a lunglesion is suspicious forlung cancer, or when cancer cannot be distinguished from another disease, such asaspergillosis.
Any approach to lung biopsy risks causing apneumothorax. Careful technique can limit this risk, which ranges from less than 1% to about 10%. The precise risk of pneumothorax depends on technique and on underlying lung disease, as certain lung diseases such asCOPD can increase the risk of pneumothorax. Pneumothorax sometimes requires treatment with achest tube.[7]
Bleeding can be life-threatening and can occur in 1 to 4%.[8] Rarely,intercostal artery can be injured when biopsy needle is punctured through the back, due to variations in the course of the artery during its first 6 cm from the spine when emerged from the midline vessels such ascostocervical trunk ofsubclavian artery and descendingthoracic aorta. There is a higher chance of the artery deviated from its usual course of groove below the ribs (subcostal groove), for the ribs that are nearer to the head. Therefore, target lesions near the back of the lungs are usually avoided if possible, and the puncture should be as near to the superior margin of the ribs as possible during biopsy.[9]
