[Sonographically guided fine-needle biopsy of peripheral lung tumors]

Sonographically guided transthoracic fine-needle biopsy of peripheral pulmonary masses was performed in seven patients. None of the masses was accessible to fiber bronchoscopy. Three tumors were apical, two paravertebral and two lateral. The puncture specimen allowed a histological diagnosis in all five cases of malignant disease. One of the other two patients was found to have tuberculosis and the last, radiation fibrosis. Pneumothorax did not occur in any of these cases.