[Percutaneous pulmonary needle biopsy using thin-needle aspiration. Experience with 302 patients]

Percutaneous aspiration biopsy of the lung was performed in 302 patients, following the method of examination and the criteria of patient selection already reported in the literature. A fine (22-gauge) needle was always employed, each patient receiving an average of two needle placements. Sensitivity was 88.4%; the false negatives being mainly related to the aspiration of inadequate material. Specificity was 96.9% and overall accuracy 89.4%. A histological diagnosis was obtained in 84% of the primary neoplasms. Adverse reactions were observed in 9.6% of the patients; the most frequent complication was pneumothorax which required treatment in two cases. The usefulness of the method in the diagnosis of pulmonary nodules is emphasized.