Needle Biopsy as an Aid to the Precise Diagnosis of Intrathoracic Disease

The place of needle biopsy of the lung and pleura in the diagnosis of intrathoracic disease was assessed by means of an analysis of the results of this procedure in 78 cases involving 111 separate biopsy attempts. The Vim-Silverman needle was used throughout. Needle biopsy of the lung, restricted to cases with localized radiological lesions peripherally situated and suggesting neoplasm, yielded a specific diagnosis in 29 of 48 patients. The comparison with other diagnostic aids, bronchoscopy, sputum cytology and scalene node biopsy, was favourable, at least in the case of peripheral tumours. There were eight complications, only three of which were of significance. Needle biopsy of the pleura proved to be a less rewarding procedure, a specific diagnosis being obtained in only seven of 30 cases. There were, however, no serious complications with this latter procedure. It was concluded that needle biopsy is of some value as a relatively safe addition to diagnostic techniques in chest disease.