Full core technology versus notch sampling technology: evaluation of the diagnostic accuracy and the risk of a pneumothorax after transthoracic needle biopsy of suspicious lung lesions. (January 2022) - Schroeder, Christophe
Background: Percutaneous needle biopsy of the lung (PCBL) under image guidance has become a safe and effective minimal invasive method to obtain a specimen related histological diagnosis of pulmonary lesions. Purpose: To evaluate the diagnostic yield and safety of two different coaxial biopsy technologies: full core and notch sampling technology. The former allowing the removal of full punch cylinders and the latter using a cutting-edge mechanism. Material and Methods: A retrospective analysis of 48 consecutive PCBL procedures has been carried out for this prognostic study, involving patients with a documented pulmonary nodule or mass lesion on previous computed tomography (CT) scans. The study population included 38 men and 10 women (mean age = 67 years). Of these 48 patients who underwent a procedure with a co-axial cutting system, 24 have been performed with notch sampling technology and 24 with full core technology. Results: Out of the 48 biopsy procedures, 46 yielded specimens were adequate for histopathological evaluation, consistent with a technical success rate of 96%. The most common induced image-guided biopsy complication was a pneumothorax, occurring in 14 patients (35%). Seven patients with a pneumothorax were attributed to the full core technology and seven to the notch sampling technology (odds ratio = 1, 95% confidence interval = 0.28–3.51, P = 1). Conclusion: In the setting of full core versus notch sampling percutaneous CT-guided coaxial needle biopsy of the lung, no significant difference in the diagnostic accuracy and the incidence of pneumothoraces could be shown, while both technologies have an excellent diagnostic performance.