Zhen-Guo Huang

Objectives: To investigate the influence of the patient's position on the entry of embolized air into the systemic circulation after air embolism (AE). Methods: 116 patients with AE were selected as study subjects, including 81 patients undergoing CT-guided transthoracic biopsy and 35 patients undergoing CT-guided localization of pulmonary nodule before video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery. While maintaining the patient's original position, 94 out of 116 patients underwent at least one follow-up CT within 5-15 min after AE. The following two situations were considered as embolized air entering into systemic circulation: (1) CT showed air in the aorta and/or branches; (2) follow-up CT showed a decrease or disappearance of air in the left heart. Results: The positions of the 116 patients with AE included 6 in supine position (SP), 70 in prone position (PP), 20 in left lateral decubitus position (LLDP), and 20 in right lateral decubitus position (RLDP). Embolized air entering the systemic circulation occurred in 33.3% (2/6) patients in SP, 47.1% (33/70) patients in PP, 70% (14/20) patients in LLDP, and 55% (11/20) patients in RLDP. The difference is not statistically significant (χ2 = 4.16, P = .24). Conclusions: The proportion of embolized air entering the systemic circulation is similar among patients in SP, PP, LLDP, and RLDP within 5-15 min after AE. The above 4 positions cannot effectively prevent the embolized air from entering the systemic circulation. Advances in knowledge: Embolized air enters the systemic circulation within a few minutes in about half of patients with AE. Within 5-15 min after AE, the proportion of embolized air entering the systemic circulation is similar among patients in SP, PP, LLDP, and RLDP. Changing the patient's position after AE cannot prevent embolized air from entering the systemic circulation.

Objectives To investigate the diagnostic performance and complication rates of percutaneous transthoracic CT-guided coaxial core needle biopsy (PTCNB) in persistent consolidations and evaluate its safety in routine clinical practice. Methods A total of 685 patients (404 males, 281 females) underwent PTCNB with coaxial core technique for persisted consolidation were reviewed in this study. According to histopathological and microbiological analysis, the results of biopsy specimens were categorized as follows: malignant, specific benign, non-specific benign and non-diagnostic. The final diagnosis was established through surgical resection or clinicoradiological follow-up for at least 12 months following biopsy. Diagnostic yield of PTCNB was defined as the percentage of the true diagnosis from biopsy as malignant and specific benign lesions. Results With respect to the final diagnosis, 54 (54/685; 7.88%) cases were obtained by surgery and the remaining were by follow-up. The total accuracy, sensitivity, specificity of PTCNB for malignancy diagnosis was 94.45%, 84.87%, 100%, respectively. Diagnostic yield of PTCNB was 66.28%. Compared to lesions smaller than 3 cm, higher diagnostic yield (70.89%), lower complication incidence (38.22%) and shorter procedure time (8.78 min) were observed in lesions ≥ 3 cm group. Conclusion PTCNB in persistent consolidation is a safe and effective procedure, which provide relatively high diagnostic yield and acceptable complication, especially in size over 3 cm lesions. Critical relevance statement CT-guided coaxial needle biopsy for pulmonary consolidation is a safe and effective procedure. The coaxial needle biopsy yielded high diagnostic rates and low complication rates (including pneumothorax and intrapulmonary hemorrhage), especially in larger lesions.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the usefulness of intraprocedural CT and prior PET/CT fusion imaging in improving the diagnostic yield of CT-guided transthoracic core-needle biopsy (CNB) in lung masses. Methods: In total, 145 subjects with lung masses suspicious for malignancy underwent image-guided transthoracic CNB. According to imaging modality the subjects were divided into two groups. PET/CT images obtained no more than 14 days before the biopsy were integrated with intraprocedural CT images. The integrated or fused images were then used to plan the puncture sites. The clinical characteristics, diagnostic yield of CNB, diagnostic accuracy rate, procedure-related complications and procedure duration were recorded and compared between the two groups. Final clinical diagnosis was determined by surgical pathology or at least 6-months follow-up. The diagnostic accuracy of CNB was obtained by comparing with final clinical diagnosis. Results: 145 subjects underwent CNB with adequate samples, including 76 in fusion imaging group and 69 in routine group. The overall diagnostic yield and diagnostic accuracy rate were 80.3% (53/66), 82.9% (63/76) for fusion imaging group, 70.7% (41/58), 75.4% (52/69) for routine group, respectively. In addition, the diagnostic yield for malignancy in fusion imaging group (98.1%, 52/53) was higher than that in routine group (81.3%, 39/48). No serious procedure-related complications occurred in both two groups. Conclusion: CNB with prior PET/CT fusion imaging is particularly helpful in improving diagnostic yield and accurate rate of biopsy in lung masses, especially in heterogeneous ones, thus providing greater potential benefit for patients.

Objectives To evaluate the efficacy and safety of marking ground glass nodules (GGNs) with pulmonary nodules localization needle (PNLN) prior to video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS). Materials and methods From June 2020 to February 2021, all patients with GGNs who received CT-guided localization using PNLN before VATS were enrolled. Clinical and imaging data were retrospectively analyzed. Results A total of 352 consecutive patients with 395 GGNs were included in the study. The mean diameter of GGNs was 0.95 ± 0.48 cm, and the shortest distance from nodules to the pleura was 1.73 ± 0.96 cm. All 395 GGNs were marked using PNLNs. The time required for marking was 7.8 ± 2.2 min. The marking success rate was 99.0% (391/395). The marking failure of four nodules was all due to the unsatisfactory position of PNLNs. No marker dislocation occurred. Marking-related complications included pneumothorax in 63 cases (17.9%), hemorrhage in 34 cases (9.7%), and hemoptysis in 6 cases (1.7%). All the complications were minor and did not need special treatment. Localization and VATS were performed on the same day in 95 cases and on different days in 257 cases. All GGNs were successfully removed by VATS. No patient converted to thoracotomy. Histopathological examination revealed 74 (18.7%) benign nodules and 321 (81.3%) malignant nodules. Conclusions It is safe and reliable to perform preoperative localization of GGNs using PNLNs, which can effectively guide VATS to remove GGNs. Key Points • Preoperative localization of GGNs could effectively guide VATS to remove GGNs. • PNLN was based on the marking principle of hook-wire, through the improvement of its material, specially designed to mark pulmonary nodules. • The application of PNLN to mark GGNs had high success rate, good patient tolerance, and no dislocation. Meanwhile, VATS could be performed 2 to 3 days after marking GGNs with PNLN.

Objectives: To evaluate the effect of the position of microcoil proximal end on the incidence of microcoil dislocation during CT-guided microcoil localization of pulmonary nodules (PNs). Methods: This retrospective study included all patients with PNs who received CT-guided microcoil localization before video-assisted thoracoscopic urgery (VATS) resection from June 2016 to December 2019 in our institution. The microcoil distal end was less than 1 cm away from the nodule, and the microcoil proximal end was in the pleural cavity (the pleural cavity group) or chest wall (the chest wall group). The length of microcoil outside the pleura was measured and divided into less than 0.5 cm (group A), 0.5 to 2 cm (group B) and more than 2 cm (group C). Microcoil dislocation was defined as complete retraction into the lung (type I) or complete withdrawal from the lung (type II). The rate of microcoil dislocation between different groups was compared. Results: A total of 519 consecutive patients with 571 PNs were included in this study. According to the position of microcoils proximal end on post-marking CT, there were 95 microcoils in the pleural cavity group and 476 in the chest wall group. The number of microcoils in group A, B, and C were 67, 448 and 56, respectively. VATS showed dislocation of 42 microcoils, of which 30 were type II and 12 were type I. There was no statistical difference in the rate of microcoil dislocation between the pleural cavity group and the chest wall group (6.3% vs 7.6%, x2 = 0.18, p = 0.433). The difference in the rate of microcoil dislocation among group A, B, and C was statistically significant (11.9%, 5.8%, and 14.3% for group A, B, and C, respectively, x2 = 7.60, p = 0.008). In group A, 75% (6/8) of dislocations were type I, while all eight dislocations were type II in group C. Conclusions: During CT-guided microcoil localization of PNs, placing the microcoil proximal end in the pleura cavity or chest wall had no significant effect on the incidence of microcoil dislocation. The length of microcoil outside the pleura should be 0.5 to 2 cm to reduce the rate of microcoil dislocation. Advances in knowledge: : CT-guided microcoil localization can effectively guide VATS to resect invisible and impalpable PNs. Microcoil dislocation is the main cause of localization failure. The length of microcoil outside the pleura is significantly correlated with the rate and type of microcoil dislocation. Placing the microcoil proximal end in the pleura cavity or chest wall has no significant effect on the rate of microcoil dislocation.

Objectives: To compare the efficacy and safety of pre-operative localization of ground glass nodule (GGN) using embolization microcoils and the locating needles designed for pulmonary nodules. Methods: From June 2019 to December 2020, 429 patients who received CT-guided localization of single GGN before video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) were enrolled. The diameter and depth of GGNs were 0.84 ± 0.39 cm and 1.66 ± 1.37 cm. Among 429 cases, the first 221 GGNs were marked with microcoils (the microcoil group), and the remaining 208 GGNs were marked with the locating needles designed for pulmonary nodules (the locating needle group). SPSS 17.0 statistical software was used to compare the marking success rate, marking time, marking-related complications between two groups. p values < 0.05 were considered statistically significant. Results: The marking time in the microcoil group was longer than that in the locating needle group (11.1 ± 3.9 vs 8.2 ± 2.0 min, t = −7.87, p = 0.000). The marking success rate in the microcoil group was lower than that in the locating needle group (91.4% vs 98.6%, χ2 = 11.27, p = 0.001). In the microcoil group, marking failures included 16 cases of microcoil dislocation and 3 cases of unsatisfactory microcoil position, while all 3 cases of marking failure in the locating needle group were due to unsatisfactory anchor position. No significant differences in the incidence of total complications (23.1% vs 22.1%), pneumothorax (18.1% vs 19.2%), hemorrhage (9.5% vs 9.1%), and hemoptysis (1.8% vs 1.4%) were observed between the two groups. All the complications were minor and did not need special treatment. Except for one case in the microcoil group, which was converted to thoracotomy, the remaining 428 GGNs were successfully resected by VATS. Conclusions: It is safe and effective to perform pre-operative localization of GGN using either embolization microcoil or the locating needle designed for pulmonary nodules. The locating needle is superior to microcoil for marking GGN in terms of procedure time and the success rate. The complication rate of both methods is similar. Advances in knowledge: The locating needle designed for pulmonary nodules has recently been used to mark pulmonary nodule. Its structure can effectively avoid dislocation after localization, and the marking process is simple and quick. Compared with localization using microcoil, it takes less time and has higher success rate to mark GGNs using the locating needle. The complication rate of both methods is similar.

Huang ZG, et al. Korean J Radiol. 2021 Apr;22:e36. https://doi.org/10.3348/kjr.2020.0331

Objectives: To compare CT-guided transthoracic cutting needle biopsy (TCNB) with transthoracic aspiration needle biopsy (TANB) for pulmonary lesions with respect to the diagnostic accuracy and complication rate. Methods: Of the 859 cases that underwent consecutive CT-guided biopsy of pulmonary lesions, 713 cases confirmed by surgical pathology or clinical follow-up were enrolled. Of these, the first consecutive 275 cases underwent TANB, and the remaining 438 received TCNB. The final diagnosis determined the accuracy of biopsy. Based on the post-biopsy CT and clinical medical records, the presence or absence of biopsy-related complications was determined. The χ2 test was used to compare the differences between TCNB and TANB in terms of diagnostic accuracy and complication rate. Results: Among the 713 biopsy lesions, the final diagnosis was malignant in 411 cases and benign in 302 cases. As compared to TANB, the diagnostic accuracy of TCNB (98.9% vs 93.8%, χ2 = 14.35, p < 0.01), sensitivity to malignant lesions (97.8% vs 90.6%, χ2 = 10.58, p < 0.01), negative predictive value (97.6% vs 84.8%, χ2 = 19.03, p < 0.01), and specific diagnostic rate for benign lesions (73.4% vs 57.9%, χ2 = 7.29, p < 0.01) were improved. On the other hand, a statistical difference was detected between TCNB and TANB with respect to the incidence of pneumothorax (20.6% vs 13.1%, χ2 = 6.46, p = 0.01), hemorrhage (32.2% vs 13.1%, χ2 = 33.03, p < 0.01), and hemoptysis (8.2% vs 3.3%, χ2 = 6.87, p < 0.01). One patient died just several minutes after TCNB due to severe hemorrhage with hemoptysis. Conclusions: Compared to TANB, CT-guided TCNB improves the diagnostic accuracy of pulmonary lesions, but complication rate increases significantly. Advances in knowledge: In general, TCNB should be recommended, especially for highly suspicious benign lesions. For patients with small lesions adjacent to vessels or vessels within the lesion, TANB should be considered.

Objective: (1) To evaluate the value of CT-guided microcoil implantation for localizing pulmonary ground-glass nodules (GGNs) before video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS). (2) To evaluate the feasibility, safety and accuracy of cephalic-caudal oblique approach for lesions difficult to access on axial images owing to overlying bony structures, large vessels or interlober fissures. Methods: From June 2016 to March 2019, all patients with GGNs resected by VATS after marking using CT-guided microcoil implantation in China-Japan friendship hospital were enrolled and clinical and imaging data were retrospectively analyzed. According to the microcoil marked path, the GGNs were divided into cephalic-caudal oblique group (oblique group) and non-oblique group. The success rate of marking, the time required for marking and the incidence of complications between the two groups were compared. Results: 258 GGNs from 215 consecutive patients were included in this study. The diameter of GGNs was 1.22 ± 0.50 cm, and the shortest distance from GGNs to the pleura was 1.56 ± 1.09 cm. All 258 GGNs were successfully resected by VATS under the guidance of implanted microcoils, and no case was converted to thoracotomy. During CT-guided microcoil implantation, cephalic- caudal oblique approach was taken in 56 GGNs (oblique group) to avoid bone, interlobar fissure and blood vessels. The time required for marking was significantly longer for oblique group compared with non-oblique group (16.6 ± 2.4 vs. 13.1 ± 1.9 min, p<0.01). No significant differences in the success rate of marking (94.6% vs 91.6%), the incidence of pneumothorax (19.6% vs 17.8%), the bleeding rate (10.7% vs 8.9%), and the hemoptysis rate (1.8% vs 1.5%) were observed between the two groups. Conclusion: CT-guided microcoil implantation can effectively guide VATS to resect GGNs. For GGNs difficult to access on axial images, CT-guided cephalic-caudal oblique approach is feasible, safe, and accurate. Advances in knowledge: CT-guided microcoil implantation can effectively guide VATS to resect GGNs. The marked path with cephalic-caudal obliquity can effectively avoid bone, interlobar fissure and blood vessels, successfully mark GGNs difficult to access on axial images, while keeping the distance from the pleura to the lesion on the marked path as short as possible at the same time.