Chen He

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.