Accuracy of Percutaneous Multislice CT-Guided Needle Biopsy of Small Pulmonary Nodules on Expiratory Phase

Background/Objective: This study was performed"nto determine the accuracy of CT-guided needle biopsy"nof small (≤10 mm) pulmonary nodules and the factors"ninfluencing it."nPatients and Methods: CT-guided needle biopsy"nwas performed on fourty-two patients (18 female, 24"nmale) with lung nodules≤10 mm between August 2008"nS60 Iran J Radiol 2011, 8 (Supp.1)"nand September 2010. Maximum nodule diameter was"n4-6 mm in 12 patients and 7-10 mm in 30 patients."nMultislice CT scans were performed at expiratory"nphase for reducing lung and nodule movements and"nthen fixation of the nodules in various scans in biopsy"ntime."nResults: Malignancy was diagnosed in 55%, benign"nlesions in 21% and non diagnostic in 24%. For all"nlesions three specimens were taken. The overall"nsensitivity was 76.7%. Sensitivity for 12 lesions with"n4-6 mm diameter and 7-10 mm were 58% and 83%,"nrespectively. The overall accuracy was 80%. The"ndiagnostic accuracy for 4-6 mm lesions was 60% and"nfor 7-10mm lesions was 85%."nConclusion: The main determining factor in the"ndiagnostic accuracy is lesion size and CT-guided needle"nbiopsy in the expiratory phase helps less variation and"nmovement of small nodules in biopsy time.