Diagnosis of diffuse lung disease by cutting needle biopsy

The results of 15 consecutive automated cutting needle (1.2 mm, n = 14; 2.0 mm, n = 1) biopsies of diffuse lung manifestations are presented. Sufficient material for histologic analysis was obtained in 13 of 15 specimens (87%) and a specific diagnosis was obtained in 11 of 14 patients (79%). The tissue specimen confirmed the clinically probable lung disease in 6 patients, gave a new, unsuspected, diagnosis in 2, and resolved a differential diagnostic problem in 3 patients. One pneumothorax after a 2.0-mm needle biopsy necessitated catheter drainage. We conclude that percutaneous lung biopsy with the automated biopsy device mounted with a 1.2-mm needle yields a histologic diagnosis with high accuracy in interstitial and alveolar lung changes, reducing the need for more invasive methods such as open lung biopsy.