[The usefulness of thoracic needle biopsy under computed tomographic fluoroscopy]

Computed tomographic (CT) fluoroscopy was utilized to perform percutaneous needle biopsies in 16 patients with abnormal thoracic shadows. Biopsies were successfully performed in 15 of the patients. A diagnosis was made in 13 cases (81%; 11 of 12 malignant and 2 of 4 benign lesions). The time required to perform a biopsy ranged from 16 to 45 minutes (26.6 minutes on average). Complications were observed in 4 patients; pneumothorax occurred in 3 and hemoptysis in 1. CT-fluoroscopic guidance was indicated when the tumor was small, located near blood vessels or in the mediastinum, or poorly visualized or invisible on conventional radiographs.