Percutaneous transthoracic needle aspiration lung biopsy in the community hospital

In 108 cases in which transthoracic needle aspiration biopsies were studied at Raleigh General Hospital in Beckley, West Virginia, from 1983 through 1987, the pathologic diagnoses were compared and correlated with the subsequent clinical course. The procedure was performed under C.T. guidance. Correlation of pathology with the clinical course yielded 67 per cent (72 cases) true positives, 19 per cent (20 cases) true negatives, four per cent (four cases) false negatives, zero per cent (zero cases) false positives, and 11 per cent (12 cases) indeterminates. In 23 per cent of the cases, there were radiologically demonstrated pneumothoraces, with placement of a chest tube required in 12 per cent of the cases. Hemoptysis occurred in eight per cent of the patients. The results confirmed the appropriateness of using transthoracic needle aspiration biopsies at this hospital.