Lung Biopsy for Diffuse Pulmonary Lesions: Value and Limitations

¹ Division of Pulmonary Medicine and Thoracic Surgical Services, Montefiore and Morrisania City Hospitals

The results of 70 diagnostic lung biopsies in 69 patients with diffuse pulmonary lesions are reviewed and compared with those of 425 reported.

In the vast majority of patients, the limited thoracotomy required and lung biopsy are safe. However, complications do occur. Among the 494 cases, there were eight deaths (1.6 per cent). Several of the fatalities could be ascribed to the progressive nature of the disease under investigation rather than to the operation.

The value and limitations of diagnostic lung biopsy are discussed. It is concluded that in patients with obscure pulmonary lesions which cannot be diagnosed by other means, a histologic interpretation of the lesions found is possible by means of lung biopsy. However, in approximately 25 per cent of the cases, tissue diagnosis does not suffice. The final diagnosis depends on information which the physician may or may not be able to obtain from other sources.

In addition to its diagnostic value in specific cases, lung biopsy occupies an important place in the study of pulmonary lesions in general.