Percutaneous Needle Biopsy of the Lung for Diffuse Parenchymal Disease

¹ Division of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery
² Department of Internal Medicine
³ Department of Radiology
⁴ Department of Pathology

Percutaneous needle lung biopsies were performed on 61 patients with diffuse parenchymal disease. A specimen was obtained in 90 per cent of all cases. Diagnosis was established in 85 per cent of all cases. A chest tube was left indwelling in all patients following lung biopsy. Complications were few. On the basis of this experience and a brief review of the literature, the following conclusions are made: 1) lung biopsy is valuable as an early diagnostic procedure; 2) percutaneous needle biopsy of the lung in diffuse parenchymal disease is a safe procedure with a high diagnostic yield; 3) when physically possible, the insertion of a chest tube in all cases is thought to be an added safety factor; 4) a culture from the specimen is a useful adjunct and should be done in all cases; 5) needle lung biopsy should be considered prior to all cases of open biopsy for diffuse disease except when thoracotomy is otherwise indicated; 6) except when contraindicated, needle biopsy of the lung is indicated in any diffuse pulmonary disease for which the etiology is not apparent on routine chest medical work-up.