Diagnostic accuracy and associated complications of percutaneous computed tomography guided core needle biopsy of pulmonary lesions using coaxial technique

This study was conducted to determine the diagnostic accuracy of CT-guided core needle biopsy (CNB) using coaxial technique of pulmonary lesions, its complications and factors affecting them. A total of 122 patients with suspected lung malignancy underwent CT-guided CNB. Final diagnosis was confirmed by histopathology. There were 84 (89.4%) true positive while 26 (92.9%) true negative cases. Diagnostic accuracy, sensitivity, specificity, PPV, NPV, and overall diagnostic accuracy were 97.67%, 72.22%, 89.36%, 92.86% and 90.16% respectively. Pneumothorax was the only complication observed in 10 (8.2%) patients. The odds of pneumothorax was found to be 10.72 times higher among patients with 2.5cm of size of lesions (AOR 10.72, 95% CI 1.49-76.77) while 86% lower among patients having prone position (AOR 0.14, 95% CI 0.021-0.96). Results indicate that percutaneous CT guided biopsy of pulmonary lesions using coaxial technique is a safe procedure with a high diagnostic accuracy and lesser risk of major complications.