Failure factors in CT-guided biopsy of lung lesions: analysis of 103 consecutive biopsies

Fourteen characteristics of the biopsy procedure were analyzed, including size, location, skin-lesion and chest wall-lesion distances, operator experience, procedure type (histology and/or cytology), histologic definite diagnosis, and other. Overall success rate was 88%. Success rate was correlated with the size of the lesion 4.3 ± 2.9 cm for the positive results versus 2 ± 1.2 cm for the negative results (p < 0.01). Skin-and chest wall-lesion distances were 5.8 ± 2.2 and 1.5 ± 1.8 respectively for positive results and 8.3 ± 2.9 and 3.7 ± 2.5 for negative results (p < 0.001). The overall complication rate for pneumothorax was 17%. Chest wall-lesion distances were 3.3 ± 1.8 cm for complicated procedures and 1.5 ± 1.9 cm for uncomplicated procedures (p < 0.001). No other factor was significantly correlated with the risk of pneumothorax. (authors). 16 refs., 2 tabs