CT-guided core-needle biopsy in the diagnosis of mediastinal lymphoma

The advent of radio guidance techniques for percutaneous biopsy has changed the approach to the routine diagnosis of mediastinal lymphoma. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the diagnostic accuracy of CT-guided perc utaneous fine-needle biopsy (PCNB) in the clinical management of patients w ith mediastinal lymphoma. The results of CT-guided PCNB of mediastinal lymp homa performed under local anesthesia in 42 ambulatory patients were analyz ed. A positive diagnosis of lymphoma was obtained in 30 of 42 patients, wit h an overall success rate 71.5%. The technique was equally successful in th e diagnosis of Hodgkin's and non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. There was no major com plications. Percutaneous CT-guided CNB of mediastinal lymphoma is a quack, safe, accurate and efficient alternative to open biopsy in the evaluation o f mediastinal lymphoma, mainly at presentation. It should become the prefer red initial diagnostic procedure for obtaining histologic samples in patien ts with respected mediastinal lymphoma.