DIFFUSE PLEURAL THICKENING - PERCUTANEOUS CT-GUIDED CUTTING NEEDLE-BIOPSY

PURPOSE: To assess the diagnostic yield of computed tomography (CT)gui ded percutaneous cutting needle biopsy of diffuse pleural thickening. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In 42 consecutive adult patients with diffuse p leural disease seen, 45 CT-guided percutaneous biopsies were performed with an 18-gauge cutting needle powered by a hand-held, spring-operat ed biopsy instrument. Results were assessed retrospectively. RESULTS: Sufficient pleural tissue for histologic diagnosis was obtained in 42 of the 45 biopsies, with a correct histologic diagnosis made in 39 of the 42 specimens. Specificity and sensitivity for helping differentiat e malignant from benign disease were 100% and 83%, respectively. Posit ive and negative predictive values were 1.0 and 0.60, respectively. by combining findings at biopsy and at CT (presence or absence of pleura l thickness greater than I em, mediastinal-circumferential involvement , irregular contour), sensitivity and negative predictive values reach ed 100% and 1.0, respectively. CONCLUSION: Combined findings of CT-gui ded percutaneous cutting needle biopsy and CT are useful in first-line investigation of diffuse pleural thickening.