Related Experiment Videos
Postbiopsy pneumothorax: estimating the risk by chest radiography and pulmonary function tests
G D Fish1, J H Stanley, K S Miller
1Department of Radiology, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston 29425-0720.
AJR. American Journal of Roentgenology
|January 1, 1988
Summary
Pulmonary function tests and chest imaging can predict pneumothorax risk after lung biopsy. Patients with obstructive airway disease show higher risks, while normal results indicate a lower chance of complications.
Area of Science:
- Pulmonary Medicine
- Radiology
- Diagnostic Procedures
Background:
- Percutaneous needle biopsy of lung lesions is a common diagnostic procedure.
- Pneumothorax is a known complication of lung biopsy, necessitating risk assessment.
- Predictive factors for post-biopsy pneumothorax require further elucidation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the utility of pulmonary function tests (PFTs) and chest radiographs in estimating the risk of pneumothorax after percutaneous needle lung biopsy.
- To identify specific PFT and radiographic findings associated with increased pneumothorax risk.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective review of PFTs and chest radiographs from 160 patients undergoing percutaneous needle lung biopsy.
- Subjective evaluation of chest radiographs for obstructive/restrictive airway disease and lesion characteristics (size, depth).
- Analysis of simple spirometry data and pulmonologist interpretations for PFTs.
Main Results:
- Pneumothorax occurred in 46% of patients with obstructive airway disease on PFTs vs. 19% with normal PFTs.
- Radiographic evidence of obstructive airway disease was associated with 42% pneumothorax risk vs. 25% for normal radiographs.
- Patients with obstructive findings on both PFTs and radiographs had a 46% risk, compared to 7% for those normal by both criteria.
- Decreasing lesion size and increasing depth correlated with higher pneumothorax risk.
- No patients with normal PFTs required chest tubes, unlike 19% of those with obstructive airway disease.
Conclusions:
- PFTs and chest radiographs are valuable tools for assessing pneumothorax risk prior to lung biopsy.
- Identifying obstructive airway disease via PFTs or imaging can help stratify patients at higher risk.
- Lesion characteristics on imaging also contribute to risk stratification for post-biopsy pneumothorax.