Needle biopsy and tumor staging (TNM-system)

Needle biopsy is helpful in classifying pulmonary neoplasms according to the TNM-system. A population of 2726 patients is described in which needle biopsy differentiated between neoplasm and inflammatory disease. In the subgroup of patients with neoplasms (46%) TNM-staging was established by needle biopsy. Extrapolation of these results aided in deciding whether the diagnosed lesions were operable or inoperable. Needle biopsy is also helpful in establishing the diagnosis of oat cell carcinoma. For all practical purposes this is an inoperable lesion. The patient may such be saved unnecessary thoracotomy; an alternative treatment of surgery i.e. radiotherapy and/or chemotherapy is then available. Finally, the combination of needle biopsy with subsequent TNM-staging is useful as a prognostic device.