Clinical application of CT-guided percutaneous puncturing biopsy of subcarinal lymph node

Objective: To discuss the safety and clinical significance of CT-guided percutaneous puncturing biopsy of subcarinal lymph node. Methods: During the period of July 2006-July 2010, CT-guided percutaneous puncturing biopsy of subcarinal lymph node was carried out in 17 patients (11 males and 6 females, with an average age of 54 years) with enlarged subcarinal lymph nodes. The clinical data were retrospectively analyzed. Immediately after the puncturing procedure was completed, CT scanning was performed to observe if there any complications and to evaluate the safety of puncturing biopsy. Biopsy specimens were sent for pathological examination to assess the puncturing accuracy and to make the pathologic diagnosis. The clinical usefulness of this technique was evaluated. Results: Of the total 17 cases, successful puncturing into the enlarged subcarinal lymph nodes with single procedure was achieved in 14 and sufficient tissue sample was obtained. The biopsy failed in three cases at initial puncturing procedure as the needle could not be placed into the enlarged subcarinal lymph nodes, the puncturing biopsy had to given up in two patients because of hemoptysis and in another patient the second puncturing biopsy performed one week later was successful. The total technical successful rate was 88.2% (15/17). Of the fifteen cases with successful puncturing, definitive pathological diagnosis was obtained in 13 and the diagnosis was uncertain in the remaining two, with a diagnosis positive rate of 86.7% (13/15). Pathologically, the diagnoses included metastatic lymphadenopathy from lung cancer (n=10), proliferative inflammatory lymphadenopathy (n=2) and tuberculous enlargement of lymph nodes (n=1). Complications occurred in 4 patients (23.5%, 4/17), which mainly were pneumothorax and pulmonary hemorrhage. Conclusion: With high successful rate and diagnostic accuracy, CT-guided percutaneous puncturing biopsy of subcarinal lymph node is a safe and effective technique if the operator can cell master the manipulation, which is very helpful in guiding the clinical treatment. (authors)