Factors Contributing to Pneumothorax in Transthoracic CT-Guided Needle Aspiration Biopsy

Authors

Department of Radiology, NRITLD, Shaheed Beheshti University of Medical Sciences and Health Services, TEHRAN-IRAN

Abstract

Background: We studied pneumothorax as a complication of transthoracic CT-guided needle aspiration biopsy, and its
correlation with different variables were determined.
Materials & Methods: This cross-sectional study was performed on 145 consecutive patients, aged 9-87 years (mean
55.3+17.6; M/F=1.6), during a 6-month period. We reviewed the pathology results of 150 biopsy specimens obtained from
the cases, and assessed the effect of lesion size, depth, patient age and patient emphysema on pneumothorax rate.
Results: Lesion size ranged 1-18 cm (mean 6.5+3.4 cm). 95 lesions had zero distance from the chest wall, which were all
taken into account in our calculations.Pneumothorax rate was 6 percent, and we found that lesion depth (p <0.05), lesion size
(p=0.069), patient age (p=0.058,) and presence of emphysema (p <0.001) are significantly associated with increasing
pneumothorax rate (CI=90%).
Conclusion: Lesion depth, lesion size, patient age, and emphysema significantly increase the rate of pneumothorax during
transthoracic CT-guided needle biopsy.(Tanaffos 2002;1(1):15-21)

Keywords