Percutaneous Needle Biopsy of the Lung with a New Disposable Needle

¹ Departments of Internal Medicine, Division of Pulmonary Medicine, the University of California, Davis; the Sacramento Medical Center, Sacramento; and the University of Oregon Medical School, Portland

This is the first report of a series of percutaneous lung biopsies performed with a new disposable needle. The diagnosis was made in 80 percent of the cases by study of the biopsy specimen alone and in 90 percent of the cases by study of both the biopsy specimen and the post-biopsy sputum. This diagnostic yield compares favorably with other transthoracic needle biopsy techniques as well as open-lung biopsies. There was a low rate of minor complications, including most commonly a small pneumothorax (22 percent) and minimal hemoptysis (12 percent). This appears to be an acceptable pulmonary diagnostic technique in indicated cases.