[Percutaneous transthoracic fine needle aspiration of lung tumors by computed tomography examination]

Morbidity of lung cancer in Lithuania is increasing. Early diagnostics of this disease is important, difficult and necessary. During 2001, 169 patients with first and second stages of lung cancer were treated in Department of Thoracic Surgery at Kaunas Oncology Hospital. Age of patients was 30-80 years. We have analysed 20 patients with small peripheral lung tumors. Diagnosis was not confirmed by X-ray and fibrobronchoscopic examination. Percutaneous transthoracic fine needle aspiration of small lung tumors was determined by computed tomography (CT) examination. The diameter of tumors were 2.5-4.5 cm. After percutaneous transthoracic fine needle aspiration the diagnosis of lung cancer was confirmed to 15 (70.5 perc.) patients: carcinoma planocellulare - 13, Adenocarcinoma - 2 patients. Metastasis (solitary) from carcinoma renis to 1, abscessus pulmonis (necrotic masses) to 2, tuberculoma (tuberculosis) to 1 patients. After CT examination, percutaneous transthoracic fine needle aspiration and histologic examination diagnosis were confirmed: Carcinoma pulmonis stage I (T1N0M0-T2N0M0) to 5 patients, Carcinoma pulmonis stage II (T2N1M0-T3N0M0) to 9 patients, Carcinoma pulmonis III (T2N2M0) to 1 patient. There were 3 complications after percutaneous transthoracic needle aspiration: hemorrhage in tumor place to 2 patients, local pneumothorax to 1 patient. In all cases when we can not confirm diagnosis of small peripheral lung tumors we have to do CT examination and percutaneous transthoracic fine needle aspiration.