Transthoracic biopsy of lung masses: Non technical factors affecting complication occurrence

To investigate the transthoracic computed tomography (CT)-guided lung nodule biopsy complications and risk factors associated with the development of these complications.

We retrospectively evaluated a total of 41 CT-guided transthoracic biopsy complications. Data was analyzed by chi-square and independent sample t-tests.

Twenty-seven patients (28.7%) developed pneumothorax and eight patients (8.5%) developed parenchymal hemorrhage, and four patients (4.3%) hemothorax and two (2.1%) patients developed subcutaneous emphysema. A significant correlation was obtained between the development of pneumothorax and lesion size (P = 0.040), and the distance that traversed the parenchyma (P = 0.001). There was a statistically significant difference between the parenchymal hemorrhage and lesion size and the distance from passed parenchyma (P values were 0.021 and 0.008, respectively). An increased incidence of parenchymal hemorrhage and pneumothorax was observed at small size and deep-seated lesions.

Lesion size and the distance that traversed the parenchyma on the biopsy tract are the most important factors that influence the development of complications in CT-guided transthoracic biopsy.