The mean age of patients was 63.4 years,
68.2% of them were men and 31.8% women.
The mean diameter of lung lesions was 5.1 cm and the mean distance to pleura 2.1 cm.
In 44 cases a definitive diagnosis was obtained,
36 malignant and 8 benign.
The mean size was 4.2 cm for malignant lesions and 7,1 cm for benign lesions
The mean distance to pleura was 2.3 cm for malignant lesions and 1,3 cm for benign.
Table 1: Characteristics of lesions
In 39 cases sample tissue was obtained with 20G-SCN for histological analysis and in 39 cases sample was obtained with 22G-FNA for cytologic analysis.
The sensitivity for malignant and benign lesions was higher with 20G-SCN (87.9% vs 69.7%,
and 33% vs 0%).
The false negative rate for 20G-SCN was lower (12.1% vs 30.3%).
Table 2: Sensitivity and false negative rate in samples obtained with 20G-SCN and 22G-FNA
In 34 cases cytological and histological samples were obtained in the same procedure.
In these cases the sensitivity of 20G-SCN was higher for diagnosis of malignant lesions (86.7% vs 70%) and benign lesions (33% vs 0%).
By combining cytologic and histologic samples the sensitivity increased (90%) for malignant lesions.
The false negative rate was lower for 20G-SCN (13.3% vs 30%).
Table 3: Sensitivity and false negative rate in samples obtained with 20G-SCN and 22G-FNA in the same procedure.
Pneumothorax with chest tube drainage happened in 6,1% of patients.
Other 6.1% of patients had mild hemoptysis.
These rates are similar to those reported in the literature.
No serious complications occurred.