CT-guided Needle Biopsy Research Articles

Evaluating efficacy and safety of a novel registration-free CT-guided needle biopsy navigation system (RC 120): A multicenter, prospective clinical trial

BackgroundCurrent percutaneous transthoracic needle biopsies (PTNB) navigation systems present challenges due to additional steps and limitations on the operating environment. Research QuestionWe developed a novel, registration-free navigation system for swift and precise CT-guided PTNB, eliminating the need for body surface markers and intraoperative registration. This study assesses its efficacy and safety. MethodsA prospective study was conducted on participants aged 18–80 years prepared for PTNB at two clinical centers, from December 2021 to August 2022. The primary endpoint was the success rate of biopsies within 2 needle adjustments, and the secondary endpoint was the success rate within a single adjustment. Safety endpoints were defined by adverse events occurrence. ResultsThe study included 98 patients (median age, 64 years, IQR 54–69 years, 71 men). The primary endpoint achieved a biopsy success rate of 98.98 %, and the secondary endpoint demonstrated 97.96 %. The overall success rate was 98.98 %, significantly exceeding the target value of 85 % (P < 0.0001). The median number of CT scans was 3, significantly fewer than predicted for the manual puncture scheme [3 (IQR 3–3) to 8 (IQR 6–8), P < 0.0001]. The average procedure duration was 18.0 min (IQR: 14.0–29.0 min). The most common adverse events were hemorrhage (14 instances) and pneumothorax (8 instances). Other adverse events included elevated blood pressure, hemoptysis, and other common events. InterpretationOur registration-free navigation system proved to be an effective and safe system for assisting percutaneous lung biopsies in clinical practice.

Synchronous primary gastric diffuse large B-cell lymphoma and multiple lung primary adenocarcinoma with pulmonary cryptococosis: a case report and literature review

BackgroundThe coexistence of non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma of the stomach and multiple primary lung adenocarcinomas with pulmonary cryptococcosis has rarely been reported.Case presentationWe herein present a 75-year-old man who was admitted to our hospital due to hematemesis. Gastroscopy and imaging revealed extensive stomach wall thickening and multiple lung lesions, including nodules and cavernous lesion. The patient was diagnosed with primary diffuse large B-cell lymphoma via gastroscopy and bilateral lung primary adenocarcinoma with cryptococcal infection via percutaneous CT-guided puncture biopsy. He subsequently underwent six cycles of R-CHOP regimen for gastric lymphoma, along with CT-guided radiofrequency ablation for the upper lobe of the right lung primary adenocarcinoma and radioactive particle implantation was performed on the lower lobe of the left lung primary adenocarcinoma, supplemented with antifungal therapy. After a definite diagnosis and systemic treatment, the patient was followed up for twenty-seven months with no tumor recurrence, progression or metastasis.ConclusionTo the best of our knowledge, the complex combination of multiple primary malignancies and pulmonary cryptococcal infection is extremely rare. The diagnosis is been confusing and challenging. CT-guided needle biopsy can help achieve pathological diagnosis, elucidate the type and stage of the tumor, and even change the clinical treatment strategy, which is necessary and beneficial.

Optimization of Turnaround Time and Insufficient Quantity Frequency for Molecular Testing on FFPE Material

Abstract Introduction/Objective With clinical decisions relying progressively more on molecular data extracted from formalin- fixed, paraffin-embedded (FFPE) tissue, it is pivotal to optimize the use of tissue for diagnostic and prognostic purposes. This optimization can be reached by identifying actionable instances that can decrease the turnaround time (TAT) and the rate of “quantity not sufficient” (QNS) results Methods/Case Report From January 2023 to December 2023, the total TAT from the time a molecular study is ordered to its delivery to the molecular lab at LL200A (Tomsich Laboratories), as well as the TAT from the time between the ordering pathologist circling the region of interest to its delivery to LL200A were broken down by subspecialty and site. In addition, the QNS results of Caris genomic profiling were evaluated considering subspecialty and site, amount of material present in the initial sample, and number of levels cut for other ancillary testing from the same material. Results (if a Case Study enter NA) 83% of subspecialties took longer than 48 hours to have material ordered for molecular studies delivered to LL200A. The median TAT for all specialties was 58 hours (average: 71.6 hours). When examining TAT from circling to LL200A, the median time was 19 hours (average: 28.4 hours). Regarding the QNS rate of the Caris assay, most QNS cases were gastrointestinal tract specimens (27%) or specimens obtained from either CT-guided core needle biopsies (30%) or endoscopic biopsies (32%). The longest dimension of QNS cases ranged from 7.5 cm to 0.1 cm (median: 1.3cm)—the average number of slides ordered before Caris ranged from 1 to 52 (median: 12). Conclusion The initial results pointed towards the time from circling to LL200A as one actionable item that could improve the TAT of molecular tests. Possible solutions include enacting a dedicated tumor circling service. In addition, to decrease the rate of Caris QNS results, we propose working together with proceduralists to increase biopsy material yield and to work with pathologists to preserve limited specimens for molecular studies.

The nodule-pleura relationship affects pneumothorax in CT-guided percutaneous transthoracic needle biopsy: avoiding to cross pleural tail sign may reduce the incidence of pneumothorax

ObjectivesTo explore the role of nodule-pleural relationship, including nodule with pleural tail sign (PTS), nodule with pleural contact and nodule with pleural unrelated in CT-guided percutaneous transthoracic needle biopsy (PTNB)-induced pneumothorax, and whether employing different puncture routes has an impact on the incidence of pneumothorax in PTNB of nodules with PTS.MethodsBetween April 1, 2019, to June 30, 2021, 775 consecutive PTNB procedures of pulmonary nodules in the Peking University Cancer Hospital were retrospectively reviewed. The univariate and multivariate regression analysis were used to identify the risk factors for pneumothorax in PTNB.ResultsThe nodule with pleural contact group has a lower incidence of pneumothorax than the nodule with PTS group (p = 0.001) and the nodule with pleural unrelated group (p = 0.002). It was observed that a higher incidence of pneumothorax caused by crossing PTS compared with no crossing PTS (p < 0.001). Independent risk factors for pneumothorax included crossing PTS (p < 0.001), perifocal emphysema (p < 0.001), biopsy side up (p < 0.001), longer puncture time (p < 0.001), deeper needle insertion depth (intrapulmonary) (p < 0.001) and nodules in the middle or lower lobe (p = 0.007).ConclusionPatients with crossing PTS, a nodule in the middle or lower lobe, longer puncture time, biopsy side up, deeper needle insertion depth (intrapulmonary), and perifocal emphysema were more likely to experience pneumothorax in PTNB. When performing the biopsy on a nodule with PTS, selecting a route that avoids crossing through the PTS may be advisable to reduce the risk of pneumothorax.

7044 It Is Back, Three Decades Later! When To Stop Glucagonoma surveillance?

Abstract Disclosure: A.T. Wahba: None. J.S. Dillon: Advisory Board Member; Self; Crinetics Pharmaceuticals, CA. A 76-year-old woman presented to the Neuroendocrine Tumor (NET) Clinic for evaluation of sore mouth, perianal area and itchy ankles. She had a medical history notable for glucagonoma, status post distal pancreatectomy and splenectomy in 1988, 32 years prior to her current presentation. She recalled that she had CT imaging post operatively for a few years, but no more recent imaging. She was diagnosed with diabetes mellitus in approximately 2002, with highly variable glucose control. She developed a left leg DVT with pulmonary emboli one year prior to presentation. Shortly after her thromboembolic events, she noted her current presenting complaints. A CT abdomen scan with contrast was reported as normal. Three months later, an abdomen ultrasound for evaluation of right upper quadrant pain and intractable vomiting, showed a liver mass. MRI revealed a contrast enhancing 3.1x2.1x1.8 cm lesion in liver segment 6 and 7. Her plasma Glucagon concentration, which had been undetectable when last checked in 2007, was 382 (N: &amp;lt; 80 pg/ml). CT-guided needle biopsy of the liver lesion confirmed a well differentiated neuroendocrine tumor, immunohistochemically positive for somatostatin receptor 2 (SSTR2A), Islet-1 and PAX6, with low mitotic count and Ki-67 proliferation index of 0.45%. Gallium-68 DOTATATE-PET scan showed a single avid hepatic metastasis, with no other evidence of somatostatin receptor expressing tumor. She was initially started on a combination of short-acting Octreotide 100 mcg TID and monthly 20 mg Sandostatin LAR injections for symptomatic relief. Zinc copper 100 mg capsules were prescribed with significant improvement of skin rash and glossitis within 2-4 months. Repeat MRI abdomen at 3 months and 6 months showed a stable single liver lesion without evidence of additional metastasis. She has continued annual clinic visits and abdomen MRI follow up with stable imaging findings at 3 years. Percutaneous ablation, trans hepatic arterial embolization and surgical resection were discussed, but the patient preferred a more conservative approach of monthly octreotide LAR, which she tolerated well, and which resolved her symptoms. Glucagonoma syndrome presents classically with 5D’s: Dermatitis (Necrolytic Migratory Erythema), DVTs, Diabetes mellitus, Depression, Diarrhea. The National Comprehensive Cancer Network guidelines recommend monitoring glucagonoma patients post-resection for up to 10 years with clinical evaluation, glucagon levels every 6-12 months and imaging studies as clinically indicated. Our case illustrates that recurrence can occur after 30 years from initial resection and that longer surveillance should be considered. Presentation: 6/3/2024

Conventional versus cone-beam computed tomography in lung biopsy: diagnostic performance, risks, and the advantages of tract embolization with gelfoam particle suspension.

With the widespread adoption of computed tomography (CT) technology, the number of detected pulmonary nodules has gradually increased. CT-guided percutaneous needle biopsy has become the primary method for qualitative diagnosis of pulmonary nodules. Benefiting from its three-dimensional (3D) reconstruction capability, cone-beam CT (CBCT) technology has also been widely adopted. Nevertheless, pneumothorax remains the most common complication of these diagnostic and therapeutic procedures. This study assessed the diagnostic accuracy of conventional CT (CCT)- and CBCT-guided coaxial core needle biopsy (CCNB) and the effectiveness of gelfoam particle suspension in reducing complications through tract embolization. A retrospective analysis was conducted on 320 patients who had undergone CCNB for nodules ≤3 cm from January 2020 to June 2022 at Zhongshan People's Hospital, comprising 325 biopsies (145 CCT-guided and 180 CBCT-guided). Gelfoam tract embolization was specifically used in biopsies of patients identified with a high risk of complications. Comparative statistics involved diagnostic outcomes (sensitivity, specificity, accuracy), procedural lengths, complication occurrences, and radiation doses. Diagnostically, both CCT (sensitivity 93.3%, specificity 100%, accuracy 94.1%) and CBCT (sensitivity 92.8%, specificity 100%, accuracy 93.8%) offered a similarly high performance. The CCT technique was preferable in terms of shorter median operational times (19 vs. 24 minutes; P<0.001) and greater radiation exposure (13.9 vs. 10.1 mSv; P<0.001). The complication rates of CBCT and CCT, such as those of pneumothorax (18.9% vs. 20.7%; P=0.69) and hemorrhage (23.9% vs. 18.6%; P=0.25), were comparable. Of note, the comparison of biopsies with and without gelfoam embolization revealed a marked reduction in postoperative pneumothorax incidence (1.24% vs. 7.9%; P=0.004) and the requirement for drainage (0% vs. 4.27%; P=0.02), indicating the effectiveness of this procedure. CCT- and CBCT-guided lung biopsies demonstrate equivalent diagnostic capacities, with CCT providing shorter median operational times. Importantly, gelfoam embolization substantially diminishes the risk of postoperative pneumothorax, underscoring its value in high-risk patients.

Bacillus megaterium infection presenting as pulmonary alveolar proteinosis, a case report

BackgroundPulmonary alveolar proteinosis (PAP) is a special clinical presentation mostly associated with autoimmune disorders. Here we report a rare case of PAP secondary to infection of Bacillus megaterium.Case presentationA 58-year-old woman presented with intermittent cough and dyspnea for half a year. Chest CT scan showed “crazy paving” pattern. B. megaterium was identified by percutaneous CT-guided needle biopsy. She continuously received antimicrobial treatment since the diagnosis and follow-up examination suggested great improvement.ConclusionsTo our knowledge, this is the first case of B. megaterium infection presented with PAP pattern in healthy individuals. Attention should be paid on the secondary causes including rare pathogen infection when patients presented with PAP syndrome.

The Role of CT-guided Core Needle Biopsy in Pancreatic Tumors: An Initial Evaluation in Modern Oncology.

Neoadjuvant chemotherapy has recently become the standard of care for borderline resectable pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC), and there have even been numerous reports evaluating its potential benefits in resectable PDAC. However, neoadjuvant therapy first requires a histological or cytological diagnosis. This study aimed to analyze the safety and diagnostic yield of CT-guided core needle biopsy (CNB). A retrospective analysis of patients with pancreatic tumor requiring a CNB during the period 2015 to 2023 were included. Biopsies were performed with an 18-20 G Tru-Core needle using a coaxial system and automatic biopsy gun. Demographics, procedural variables, postoperative outcomes, and histological results were analyzed. A total of 43 pancreatic biopsies were performed in 42 patients. The mean age was 60 years (35 to 81y), and 24 (56%) were males. Tumors were more frequently localized in the head (42%) and body (42%) of the pancreas. The mean size of the pancreatic lesions was 53.77 mm (17 to 181 mm) and the mean number of samples per biopsy was 4 (1 to 12). Most procedures were performed via direct access (81%). No major complications were observed. Histological diagnosis was obtained in 40 (93%) patients, with a sensitivity of 93%, specificity of 100% and an overall accuracy rate of 93%. The probability of performing a molecular diagnostic test increased with the year of biopsy (OR 3.34, 95% CI 1.33-8.40, P=0.01). CNB is an efficient and safe method for obtaining high-quality material. This approach could be essential as molecular profiling continues to improve the diagnosis, prognosis, and treatment of PDAC.

Assessing the efficacy and safety of a novel, registration-free, CT-guided percutaneous transthoracic needle biopsy navigation system (RC120): A multicenter, prospective, single-arm clinical trial.

197 Background: Current optical and electromagnetic navigation systems for CT-guided percutaneous transthoracic needle biopsies (PTNB) have limitations. They require surface markers on the patient and intraoperative registration. Specific patient positioning during biopsies is required. Our team developed a new navigation system that addresses these issues. It doesn’t rely on patient surface markers or intraoperative registration, and it provides more flexibility in patient positioning during biopsies. Our research evaluates the effectiveness and safety of this system. Methods: A single-arm prospective study was conducted, including participants aged 18-80 years prepared for percutaneous lung core biopsy at two clinical centers in China. The primary endpoint was the success rate of biopsies within 2 needle adjustments. The secondary endpoint was the success rate of biopsies within a single needle adjustment. Safety endpoints were defined by the occurrence of adverse events. The number of CT scans patients underwent during the procedure was used to assess radiation dosage. Follow-up was conducted on subsequent pathological and molecular diagnoses. Results: The study included 98 patients from two sites, with a median age of 64 years. Most participants were males, accounting for 72.45% (71 out of 98). The primary endpoint was achieved with a biopsy success rate of 98.98%, requiring a maximum of two needle adjustments. The secondary endpoint was met, demonstrating a biopsy success rate of 97.96% with a maximum of one needle adjustment. The overall success rate was 98.98%, with a 95% confidence interval (CI) of 94.45% to 99.97%, significantly exceeding the target value of 85% (P &lt; 0.0001). The median number of CT scans was 3, ranging from 3 to 12. The average duration of the procedure was 18.0 minutes. Regarding safety endpoints, the two most common adverse events were hemorrhage in the lesion (14 instances, 29.17%) and pneumothorax (8 instances, 16.67%). Other adverse events included elevated blood pressure (5 instances, 10.42%), hemoptysis (4 instances, 8.33%), and other common adverse events such as cough, constipation, anemia, and bloody sputum, each occurring twice. There were 9 other less common adverse events, each occurring once. These adverse events are common in PTNB and can be attributed to the puncture operation itself, not our navigation system. Conclusions: Our new registration-free navigation system proved to be an effective, efficient, safe, and well-utilized system for assisting percutaneous lung biopsies in clinical practice. Clinical trial information: ChiCTR2300072197 .

CT-Guided Core Needle Biopsy of Pulmonary Lesions Associated With Cystic Airspaces: A Case-Control Study.

BACKGROUND. Concern may exist that pulmonary lesions associated with cystic airspaces are at risk of increased biopsy complications or lower biopsy accuracy given challenges in targeting tissue abutting or intermingled with the cystic airspaces. OBJECTIVE. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the safety and diagnostic performance of CT-guided core needle biopsy (CNB) of pulmonary lesions associated with cystic airspaces. METHODS. This retrospective study included 90 patients (median age, 69.5 years; 28 women, 62 men) who underwent CT-guided CNB of pulmonary lesions associated with cystic airspaces (based on review of procedural images) from February 2010 to December 2022 and a matched control group (2:1 ratio) of 180 patients (median age, 68.0 years; 56 women, 124 men) who underwent CNB of noncystic noncavitary lesions during the same period. The groups were compared in terms of complications, nondiagnostic biopsies (i.e., nonspecific benignities, atypical cells, or insufficient specimens), and CNB diagnostic performance for detecting malignancy using as reference the final diagnosis from a joint review of all available records. For lesions associated with cystic airspaces that underwent surgical resection after CNB, histologic slides were reviewed to explore the nature of the cystic airspace. RESULTS. The final diagnosis was malignant in 90% (81/90) of lesions associated with cystic airspaces and 92% (165/180) of noncystic noncavitary lesions. Patients with lesions associated with cystic airspaces and patients with noncystic noncavitary lesions showed no significant difference in frequency of complications (overall: 40% [36/90] vs 38% [68/180], p = .79; major: 4% [4/90] vs 6% [10/180], p = .78; minor: 36% [32/90] vs 32% [58/180], p = .59), frequency of nondiagnostic biopsies (12% [11/90] vs 9% [16/180], p = .40), or diagnostic performance (accuracy: 94% [85/90] vs 97% [175/180], p = .50; sensitivity: 94% [76/81] vs 97% [160/165], p = .50; specificity: 100% [9/9] vs 100% [15/15]; p > .99), respectively. All false-negative results for malignancy in both groups occurred in patients with nondiagnostic CNB results. Among lesions associated with cystic airspaces that were resected after CNB (all malignant), the cystic airspaces most commonly represented tumor degeneration (22/31 [71%]). CONCLUSION. CT-guided CNB is safe and accurate for assessing pulmonary lesions associated with cystic airspaces. CLINICAL IMPACT. CNB may help avoid a missed or delayed cancer diagnosis in pulmonary lesions with cystic airspaces.

CT-guided needle biopsy is not associated with increased ipsilateral pleural metastasis

IntroductionHistological confirmation of a lung tumor is the prerequisite for treatment planning. It has been suspected that CT-guided needle biopsy (CTGNB) exposes the patient to a higher risk of pleural recurrence. However, the distance between tumor and pleura has largely been neglected as a possible confounder when comparing CTGNB to bronchoscopy. MethodsAll patients with lung cancer histologically confirmed by bronchoscopy or CTGNB between 2010 and 2020 were enrolled and studied. Patients’ medical histories, radiologic and pathologic findings and surgical records were reviewed. Pleural recurrence was diagnosed by pleural biopsy, fluid cytology, or by CT chest imaging showing progressive pleural nodules. ResultsIn this retrospective unicenter analysis, 844 patients underwent curative resection for early-stage lung cancer between 2010 and 2020. Median follow-up was 47.5 months (3–137). 27 patients (3.2 %) with ipsilateral pleural recurrence (IPR) were identified. The distance of the tumor to the pleura was significantly smaller in patients who underwent CTGNB. A tendency of increased risk of IPR was observed in tumors located in the lower lobe (HR: 2.18 [±0.43], p = 0.068), but only microscopic pleural invasion was a significant independent predictive factor for increased risk of IPR (HR: 5.33 [± 0.51], p = 0.001) by multivariate cox analysis. Biopsy by CTGNB did not affect IPR (HR: 1.298 [± 0.39], p = 0.504). ConclusionCTGNB is safe and not associated with an increased incidence of IPR in our cohort of patients. This observation remains to be validated in a larger multicenter patient cohort.

Multidisciplinary treatment of giant thymoma, paving the way to complete surgical resection: a case report

BackgroundA multidisciplinary treatment approach is recommended for patients with extensive, advanced, or recurrent thymomas. However, detailed treatment strategies, such as chemotherapy regimens and optimal surgical procedures, are still under debate.Case presentationWe report a case of gigantic locally advanced thymoma. A 70-year-old male was referred to our hospital following the detection of abnormal chest shadows. Chest X-ray and computed tomography (CT) scans revealed a 21-cm mass in the anterior mediastinum, encircling the pulmonary hilum and extending into the left thoracic cavity. PET/CT showed increased 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose uptake at the tumor site. Based on a trans-percutaneous CT-guided needle biopsy, the tumor was diagnosed as a Type B2 thymoma at the clinical IIIA stage. The patient underwent four cycles of preoperative induction chemotherapy, including cisplatin, doxorubicin, and methylprednisolone (CAMP), resulting in a partial response; the tumor shrank to 12 cm and FDG uptake decreased. Considering the patient’s age and comorbidities, we performed total thymectomy, along with partial resections of the parietal, mediastinal and visceral pleura, pericardium, and left upper lobectomy. This approach achieved complete histological resection, mitigating the risk of recurrence. Pathological analysis confirmed a thymoma, ypT3 (lung) N0M0 stage IIIA, with no malignancy in the pericardial or pleural effusions. No recurrence was detected 9 months post-surgery.ConclusionsWe report a case of giant thymoma successfully treated with multidisciplinary strategy. Surgical treatment alone may not have achieved complete resection, but after inducing significant tumor shrinkage with preoperative CAMP therapy, we were able to achieve complete resection. This treatment strategy may be effective in large thymoma cases.

Diagnostic yield and complication rates of percutaneous transthoracic CT-guided coaxial needle biopsy in persistent pulmonary consolidation.

To investigate the diagnostic performance and complication rates of percutaneous transthoracic CT-guided coaxial core needle biopsy (PTCNB) in persistent consolidations and evaluate its safety in routine clinical practice. A total of 685 patients (404 males, 281 females) underwent PTCNB with coaxial core technique for persisted consolidation were reviewed in this study. According to histopathological and microbiological analysis, the results of biopsy specimens were categorized as follows: malignant, specific benign, non-specific benign and non-diagnostic. The final diagnosis was established through surgical resection or clinicoradiological follow-up for at least 12months following biopsy. Diagnostic yield of PTCNB was defined as the percentage of the true diagnosis from biopsy as malignant and specific benign lesions. With respect to the final diagnosis, 54 (54/685; 7.88%) cases were obtained by surgery and the remaining were by follow-up. The total accuracy, sensitivity, specificity of PTCNB for malignancy diagnosis was 94.45%, 84.87%, 100%, respectively. Diagnostic yield of PTCNB was 66.28%. Compared to lesions smaller than 3cm, higher diagnostic yield (70.89%), lower complication incidence (38.22%) and shorter procedure time (8.78min) were observed in lesions ≥ 3cm group. PTCNB in persistent consolidation is a safe and effective procedure, which provide relatively high diagnostic yield and acceptable complication, especially in size over 3cm lesions. CT-guided coaxial needle biopsy for pulmonary consolidation is a safe and effective procedure. The coaxial needle biopsy yielded high diagnostic rates and low complication rates (including pneumothorax and intrapulmonary hemorrhage), especially in larger lesions.

Computed Tomography (CT)-Guided Needle Biopsy of Lung Lesions: A Single Center Experience.

(1) Objective: Lung cancer is one of the leading causes of cancer death among men and women across the globe. The accurate and timely diagnosis of lung lesions is of paramount importance for prognosis. This single-center study is the first to assess the diagnostic yield and complication rate of a computed tomography (CT)-guided needle biopsy of pulmonary parenchymal and pleural nodules in an academic training center in the United States. (2) Methods: This is a retrospective study approved by IRB. Patients who underwent CT-guided needle biopsy between 2016 and 2020 were reviewed. A CT-guided needle biopsy involving mediastinal lesions was excluded, focusing only on lung parenchymal and pleural lesions. A CT-guided needle biopsy aborted at any point during the procedure was also excluded from this study. (3) Results: 1063 patients were included in this study; 532 were males, and 531 were females. Lesion size ranged from 0.26 cm to 9.2 cm. 1040 patients received diagnoses, among which 772 had a specific diagnosis, and 268 had nonspecific inflammatory or non-malignant diagnoses. Twenty-three cases were non-diagnostic. Among the patients with specific diagnoses, 691 were malignant, 5 were hamartomas, 30 were fungal infections, 6 were acid-fast-positive organisms, and 40 were unspecified atypical cells. Of the patients that had a malignant diagnosis, 317 were adenocarcinoma, 197 were squamous cell carcinoma, 26 were a neuroendocrine tumor, 45 were non-small cell carcinoma (undifferentiated), 17 were small cell carcinoma, and 89 were other metastatic malignancies to the lung. Various common complications, including pneumothorax (337), hemorrhage (128), and hemoptysis (17), were observed, and 42 of the cases required chest tube intervention; others were treated with observation. Other rare complications observed included hemothorax (4) and oxygen desaturation (2), and there was no death in this series. (4) Conclusions: CT-guided needle biopsy is a reliable diagnostic modality for patients with lung parenchymal and pleural nodules, and it can effectively distinguish between benign and cancerous lesions before invasive procedures such as video-assisted thoracoscopy (VATs) or thoracotomy are planned. Our study showed a higher rate of pneumothorax and pulmonary hemorrhage compared to the rates established in guidelines, attributable to the varying experience level in a busy training academic center.

Clinical Variables and Radiomics Features for Predicting Pneumothorax in Patients Undergoing CT-guided Transthoracic Core Needle Biopsy.

Purpose To develop a prediction model combining both clinical and CT texture analysis radiomics features for predicting pneumothorax complications in patients undergoing CT-guided core needle biopsy. Materials and Methods A total of 424 patients (mean age, 65.6 years ± 12.7 [SD]; 232 male, 192 female) who underwent CT-guided core needle biopsy between January 2021 and October 2022 were retrospectively included as the training data set. Clinical and procedure-related characteristics were documented. Texture analysis radiomics features were extracted from the subpleural lung parenchyma traversed by needle. Moderate pneumothorax was defined as a postprocedure air rim of 2 cm or greater. The prediction model was developed using logistic regression with backward elimination, presented by linear fusion of the selected features weighted by their coefficients. Model performance was assessed using the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC). Validation was conducted in an external cohort (n = 45; mean age, 58.2 years ± 12.7; 19 male, 26 female) from a different hospital. Results Moderate pneumothorax occurred in 12.0% (51 of 424) of the training cohort and 8.9% (four of 45) of the external test cohort. Patients with emphysema (P < .001) or a longer needle path length (P = .01) exhibited a higher incidence of moderate pneumothorax in the training cohort. Texture analysis features, including gray-level co-occurrence matrix cluster shade (P < .001), gray-level run-length matrix low gray-level run emphasis (P = .049), gray-level run-length matrix run entropy (P = .003), gray-level size-zone matrix gray-level variance (P < .001), and neighboring gray-tone difference matrix complexity (P < .001), showed higher values in patients with moderate pneumothorax. The combined clinical-radiomics model demonstrated satisfactory performance in both the training (AUC 0.78, accuracy = 71.9%) and external test cohorts (AUC 0.86, accuracy 73.3%). Conclusion The model integrating both clinical and radiomics features offered practical diagnostic performance and accuracy for predicting moderate pneumothorax in patients undergoing CT-guided core needle biopsy. Keywords: Biopsy/Needle Aspiration, Thorax, CT, Pneumothorax, Core Needle Biopsy, Texture Analysis, Radiomics, CT Supplemental material is available for this article. © RSNA, 2024.

Repeat biopsy versus initial biopsy in terms of complication risk factors and clinical outcomes for patients with non-small cell lung cancer: a comparative study of 113 CT-guided needle biopsy of lung lesions.

The safety and feasibility of repeat biopsy after systemic treatment for non-small cell lung cancer have received extensive attention in recent years. The purpose of this research was to compare complication rates between initial biopsy and rebiopsy in non-small cell lung cancer patients with progressive disease and to assess complication risk factors and clinical results after rebiopsy. The study included 113 patients initially diagnosed with non-small cell lung cancer who underwent lung biopsy at initial biopsy and rebiopsy after progression while on epidermal growth factor receptor tyrosine kinase inhibitors (EGFR-TKIs) and/or chemotherapy from January 2018 to December 2021. We compared the incidence of complications between the initial biopsy and rebiopsy and analyzed the predictors factors that influenced complications in patients who underwent rebiopsy. The successful rate of rebiopsy was 88.5% (100/113). With the exception of two cases where lung adenocarcinoma changed into small cell lung cancer with gefitinib treatment, 98 individuals retained their initial pathological type. The secondary EGFR T790M mutation accounts for 55.6% of acquired resistance. The total number of patients with complications in initial biopsy was 25 (22.1%) and 37 (32.7%) in the rebiopsy. The incidence of pulmonary hemorrhage increased from 7.1% at the initial biopsy to 10.6% at rebiopsy, while the incidence of pneumothorax increased from 14.2% to 20.4%. Compared with the initial biopsy, the incidence of overall complications, parenchymal hemorrhage, and pneumothorax increased by 10.6%, 3.5%, and 6.2%, respectively. In all four evaluations (pneumorrhagia, pneumothorax, pleural reaction, and overall complication), there were no significant differences between the rebiopsy and initial biopsy (all p > 0.05). The multivariate logistic regression analysis suggested that male sex (odds ratio [OR] = 5.064, p = 0.001), tumor size ≤ 2cm (OR = 3.367, p = 0.013), EGFR-TKIs with chemotherapy (OR = 3.633, p =0.023), and transfissural approach (OR = 7.583, p = 0.026) were independent risk factors for overall complication after rebiopsy. Compared with the initial biopsy, the complication rates displayed a slight, but not significant, elevation in rebiopsy. Male sex, tumor size ≤ 2cm, transfissural approach, and EGFR-TKIs combined with chemotherapy were independent risk factors for rebiopsy complications.

Diagnostic Accuracy of a Computed Tomography-Guided Transthoracic Needle Biopsy for Ground-Glass Opacities and Subsolid Pulmonary Nodules.

Purpose The increasing use of computed tomography (CT) imaging has led to the detection of more ground-glass nodules (GGNs) and subsolid nodules (SSNs), which may be malignant and require a biopsy for proper diagnosis. Approximately 75% of persistent GGNs can be attributed to adenocarcinoma in situ or minimally invasive adenocarcinoma. A CT-guided biopsy has been proven to be a reliable procedure with high diagnostic performance. However, the diagnostic accuracy and safety of a CT-guided biopsy for GGNs and SSNs with solid components ≤6 mm are still uncertain.The aim of this study is to assess the diagnostic accuracy of a CT-guided core needle biopsy (CNB) for GGN and SSNs with solid components ≤6 mm. Methods This is a retrospective study of patients who underwent CT-guided CNB for the evaluation of GGNs and SSNs with solid components ≤6 mm between February 2020 and January 2023. Biopsy findings were compared to the final diagnosis determined by definite histopathologic examination and clinical course. Results A total of 22 patients were enrolled, with a median age of 74 years (IQR: 68-81). A total of 22 nodules were assessed, comprising 15 (68.2%) SSNs with a solid component measuring ≤6 mm and seven (31.8%) pure GGNs. The histopathological examination revealed that 12 (54.5%) were diagnosed as malignant, nine (40.9%) as benign, and one (4.5%) as non-diagnostic. The overall diagnostic accuracy and sensitivity for malignancy were 86.36% and 85.7%, respectively. Conclusion A CT-guided CNB for GGNs and SSNs with solid components measuring ≤6 mm appears to have a high diagnostic accuracy.

Does the presence of macroscopic intralesional fat exclude malignancy? An analysis of 613 histologically proven malignant bone lesions.

To determine if macroscopic intralesional fat detected in bone lesions on CT by Hounsfield unit (HU) measurement and on MRI by macroscopic assessment excludes malignancy. All consecutive CT-guided core needle biopsies (CNB) of non-spinal bone lesions performed at a tertiary center between December 2005 and September 2021 were reviewed. Demographic and histopathology data were recorded. All cases with malignant histopathology were selected, and imaging studies were reviewed. Two independent readers performed CT HU measurements on all bone lesions using a circular region of interest (ROI) to quantitate intralesional fat density (mean HU < -30). MRI images were reviewed to qualitatively assess for macroscopic intralesional fat signal in a subset of patients. Inter-reader agreement was assessed with Cronbach's alpha and intraclass correlation coefficient. In 613 patients (mean age 62.9 years (range 19-95 years), 47.6% female), CT scans from the CNB of 613 malignant bone lesions were reviewed, and 212 cases had additional MRI images. Only 3 cases (0.5%) demonstrated macroscopic intralesional fat on either CT or MRI. One case demonstrated macroscopic intralesional fat density on CT in a case of metastatic prostate cancer. Two cases demonstrated macroscopic intralesional fat signal on MRI in cases of chondrosarcoma and osteosarcoma. Inter-reader agreement was excellent (Cronbach's alpha, 0.95-0.98; intraclass correlation coefficient, 0.90-0.97). Malignant lesions rarely contain macroscopic intralesional fat on CT or MRI. While CT is effective in detecting macroscopic intralesional fat in primarily lytic lesions, MRI may be better for the assessment of heterogenous and infiltrative lesions with mixed lytic and sclerotic components. Macroscopic intralesional fat is rarely seen in malignant bone tumors and its presence can help to guide the diagnostic workup of bone lesions. • Presence of macroscopic intralesional fat in bone lesions has been widely theorized as a sign of benignity, but there is limited supporting evidence in the literature. • CT and MRI are effective in evaluating for macroscopic intralesional fat in malignant bone lesions with excellent inter-reader agreement. • Macroscopic intralesional fat is rarely seen in malignant bone lesions.

Safety and clinical contribution of computed tomography-guided biopsy for cervical spine lesion

Introduction The purpose is to clarify the safety and clinical contribution of computed tomography (CT)-guided percutaneous needle-biopsy for patients with cervical spine lesion. Material and methods Between June 2015 and August 2022, CT-guided percutaneous needle biopsies were performed for 15 cervical spine lesions of 15 patients (8 male, 7 female; 2–81 years old). The technical success, clinical contribution, and safety were evaluated. Technical success was defined as the completion of the biopsy procedure. Clinical contribution was defined as any contribution to the therapeutic strategy. Safety was assessed by the Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events, version 5.0. Results The technical success rate was 100%. In all 15 patients, nontarget organs (e.g., major vessels, spinal cord) could be avoided. The post-biopsy histological diagnoses were myeloma (n = 2), metastatic adenocarcinoma (n = 2), chordoma (n = 2), Langerhans cell histiocytosis (n = 3), and one case each of malignant lymphoma, schwannoma, pyogenic spondylitis, non-pyogenic spondylitis, degenerative change, and non-pathological fracture. All of these diagnoses contributed to the therapeutic strategy decisions. One case of grade 2 pain was observed, but no complications with grade 3 or more were observed during or after the biopsies. Conclusion CT-guided percutaneous needle biopsies for cervical spine lesions were safe and clinically beneficial.

Malignant Peritoneal Mesothelioma Complicating Familial Mediterranean Fever on 18 F-FDG PET/CT.

A 77-year-old man with a personal history of familial Mediterranean fever presented with a slowly enlarging tumefaction of the left abdominal wall and persistent inflammatory syndrome despite good adherence to colchicine. 18 F-FDG PET/CT showed a hypermetabolic muscular mass of the abdominal wall along with other hypermetabolic lesions including a peritoneal mass and several subcutaneous soft tissue nodules. CT-guided needle biopsy led to the diagnosis of a muscular localization of a malignant peritoneal mesothelioma, which is an extremely rare complication of familial Mediterranean fever. Six courses of chemotherapy with carboplatin and pemetrexed allowed an almost complete response.