Open Lung Biopsy; A Strong Stand

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to ascertain if the results of open lung biopsy could be appreciably improved by extending the procedure to include hilar lymph nodes. Triple biopsy (pleura, lung and hilar lymph nodes) was performed on 89 patients with diffuse pulmonary disease and/or hilar adenopathy and persistent pleural effusion. The result was a definitive diagnosis in 62 and an additional 22 in whom nonspecific pleuritis was the only finding. Of particular interest was the finding of 25 patients with proved tuberculosis which had escaped definitive diagnoses by all techniques other than biopsy. A series of 24 open lung biopsies (pleura and lung only) were reported by this institution in 1963 with only three cases of proved tuberculosis. The purpose of this study was to ascertain if the results of open lung biopsy could be appreciably improved by extending the procedure to include hilar lymph nodes. Triple biopsy (pleura, lung and hilar lymph nodes) was performed on 89 patients with diffuse pulmonary disease and/or hilar adenopathy and persistent pleural effusion. The result was a definitive diagnosis in 62 and an additional 22 in whom nonspecific pleuritis was the only finding. Of particular interest was the finding of 25 patients with proved tuberculosis which had escaped definitive diagnoses by all techniques other than biopsy. A series of 24 open lung biopsies (pleura and lung only) were reported by this institution in 1963 with only three cases of proved tuberculosis.