Objectives
To audit the sample adequacy and complication rate in patients undergoing computed tomography (CT) guided,
percutaneous core biopsy at our institution over a 12 month period compared to previous audit cycles.
The previous audit performed included 67 cases undertaken betwen 2008-10.
Over this period the 'sample adequacy' rate was 94% & frequency of 'significant pneumothorax' was 5%.
Materials and Methods
Patients undergoing core biopsy of a pulmonary lesion have the details contemporaneously entered into a database.
Immediate complications and pathological outcome data are recorded.
These data and peri-procedural imaging were retrospectively analyzed.
All patients underwent CT-guided biopsy using a coaxial core biopsy system.
Each case was reviewed on the picture archiving and communication system (PACS) for tumour and targeting data,
and the presence of a chest drain on subsequent imaging.
The electronic hospital records were searched for any outstanding data.
These results were then compared...
Results
Between November 2010 and October 2011 53 CT-guided percutaneous lung biopsies were performed.
The average age of patient was 64 years (range 20-88),
average lesion size was 4.3cm (range 1 - 15) and average number of biopsies obtained was 5 (range 1 - 26).
Although the upper limit of biopsies obtained seems high,
this represents a heavily calcified sarcoma for which multiple biopsies had been performed elsewhere but none sufficient for immuno-staining.
The sample adequacy and complication rates for the period '10 - '11 are...
Conclusions
Adequate lung biopsy samples have been obtained in 98% of cases over the last 12 month audit cycle.
Increasing numbers of CT-guided lung biopsies are being requested - 53 over the last 12 months; 67 over the previous 24 months.
There have been few complications,
with a drain insertion rate of 2% and no clinically significant haemorrhage.
Both sample adequacy and complication rates compare favourably with previous years and national figures.