Ts. Brown et P. Kanthapillai, TRANSTHORACIC NEEDLE-BIOPSY FOR SUSPECTED THORACIC MALIGNANCY IN ELDERLY PATIENTS USING CT GUIDANCE, Clinical Radiology, 53(2), 1998, pp. 116-119
There are few reports of transthoracic needle biopsy (TNB) in elderly
(> 70 years) patients although there is some evidence that age may be
a risk factor in developing pneumothorax, We report our experience of
38 patients, age range 70-90 years, who underwent computed tomography
(CT)-guided TNB for suspected malignancy of the chest, with particular
reference to sensitivity and complication rate following the procedur
e, The biopsy was obtained using either a spinal needle or, if appropr
iate, a core of tissue was obtained using a cutting needle, The biopsy
showed evidence of malignancy in 27 patients, Pneumothorax occurred i
n 10 of 40 biopsies, Two patients with pneumothorax required pleural d
rains; one was discharged the following day and the other required dra
inage for 3 days, Haemoptysis was not a problem but occurred as a tran
sient postbiopsy event in three patients, In 26 of 40 (65%) episodes t
he patients were sent home within 24 h of the diagnostic procedure, It
is thus quite possible to undertake the procedure on a day case basis
, CT-guided TNB is a safe and reliable procedure in elderly patients w
ith suspected chest malignancy and is well tolerated.