percutaneous transthoracic biopsy using tru-cut needle

biopsies of thoracic lesions guidance. 22 of the 1 12 lesions were mediastinal and 83 were pleuroparenchymal. a large-bore 14-gauge tru-cut needle was used in all patients. adequate specimens for histologic examination were obtained in 98%. the overall accuracy was 91 % with 9% false negative and no false positive diagnoses. despite the large size of the needle, the total number of complications remained low ( 17%). pneumothorax was detectable in 1 1.5% of biopsies and hemoptysis in 2.6%. tru-cut needle is suitable for biopsying chest wall tumors, pleural based lesions, superior sulcus tumors, and accessible mediastinal lesions. the instrument is useful not only for diagnosing malignacy but also for determining specific malignant cell types and diagnosing benign disorders.