Implantation metastasis caused by fine needle aspiration biopsy following curative resection of stage IB non-small cell lung cancer

Fine needle aspiration is a useful procedure in the diagnosis of lung cance r. however controversy still remains as to whether it should be employed pa rticularly in patients with operable lung cancer. We report herein a case o f metastatic tumor at the site of transthoracic needle biopsy following a c urative resection in a patient with stage IB bronchogenic carcinoma. The pa tient was managed with aggressive chest wall resection and subsequent muscu locutaneus flap transposition. however he died I I months after the initial operation. The tumor implantation risk and the related complications shoul d be considered in patients with operable bronchogenic carcinoma undergoing a tranthoracic needle aspiration biopsy. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science B.V. Al l rights reserved.