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Value of ultrasonically guided needle biopsy of pleural masses: An under‐utilized technique
Author(s) -
Hsu WuHuei,
Chiang ChiDer,
Hsu JengYuan,
Chen ChihYi,
Chiang ChunShih,
Lee Tain
Publication year - 1997
Publication title -
journal of clinical ultrasound
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.272
H-Index - 61
eISSN - 1097-0096
pISSN - 0091-2751
DOI - 10.1002/(sici)1097-0096(199703)25:3<119::aid-jcu4>3.0.co;2-j
Subject(s) - medicine , pleural effusion , radiology , biopsy , pleural disease , respiratory disease , lung
Thirty‐six patients with pleural masses underwent ultrasonically guided needle biopsy (UGNB), including ultrasonically guided aspiration biopsy (UGAB) in all 36 patients and ultrasonically guided cutting biopsy (UGCB) in 13 patients. Using UGAB alone, the diagnostic rate for pleural masses was 64% (23/36); carcinomatous pleural masses were more easily diagnosed than non‐carcinomatous pleural masses (87% vs 23%, p < 0.01). If both UGAB and UGCB were used, the diagnostic rate was 89% (32/36); thus, selective UGCB was valuable in improving the diagnostic rate of non‐carcinomatous pleural masses (from 23% to 69%). In patients with pleural effusions ( n = 19), 11 underwent cytologic examinations of the pleural effusion (3 also undergoing pleural biopsy) without conclusive diagnosis; however, the diagnosis was made from pleural masses by UGAB ( n = 7) or UGCB ( n = 4). In patients without pleural effusions ( n = 17), 12 had only pleural masses (3 also having multiple peripheral pulmonary nodules and 4 having mediastinal tumors) and could not be diagnosed by conventional bronchoscopic and sputum examinations. However, the diagnosis was rapidly confirmed by UGAB ( n = 5) or UGCB ( n = 3) from the pleural masses in 8 patients. We conclude that UGNB is a useful and valuable diagnostic tool, not only detecting the pleural masses hidden by pleural effusions but also for rapidly diagnosing the pleural masses. © 1997 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Clin Ultrasound 25 : 119–125, 1997.