[Transthoracic excisional biopsy of focal pulmonary lesions]

The results of percutaneous, fluoroscopically-guided cutting biopsies of focal pulmonary lesions in 126 patients were evaluated retrospectively. In 90% of malignant lesions an exact diagnosis could be made from the material obtained. In 40% of the malignant lesions, histological examination was possible, in addition to cytology. In 87% of these, there was agreement between histology and cytology. Of the cases coming to surgery, 84% of the biopsies proved correct. Specificity was 100%. Multiple punctures were necessary in only 13%. Significant complications occurred in 5%. The cutting biopsy technique has the advantage of producing more biopsy material suitable for histology.