[Thoracic puncture-biopsy. Technic and indications. Critical study of more than 1,200 procedures]

With the use of CT guidance, thoracic (pulmonary and mediastinal) biopsy is a very accurate procedure. The authors obtained 86% of good results in a series of more than 1,200 procedures. Aspiration-biopsy therefore occupies an important place in the diagnostic process and in pretreatment assessment when fibroscopy is negative. The authors describe their technique and demonstrate the value of minimally traumatic biopsy equipment: fine millimetric needles. The use of CT and fine needles dramatically decreases the risk of pneumothorax and blank aspiration. A personalised collaboration between radiologists and pneumocytologists is an essential prerequisite. The authors discuss the indications for this technique and propose a decisional flowchart.