Diagnostic value and safety of color doppler ultrasound-guided transthoracic core needle biopsy of thoracic disease

Abstract

<b>Objective:</b> The aim of the present study was to explore the diagnostic value and safety of color Doppler ultrasound (US)-guided transthoracic core needle biopsy (CNB) of peripheral lung, chest wall and mediastinal lesions using automated biopsy guns.<b>Materials and methods:</b> We analyzed clinical and image data, histopathologic and microbiologic details and complications from 121 patients with peripheral lung, chest wall and mediastinal lesions who underwent color Doppler US-guided transthoracic CNB in Ningbo First Hospital between January 2015 and June 2018.<b>Results:</b> Color Doppler US-guided transthoracic CNB performed with a freehand technique using automated biopsy guns had a sensitivity of 93.94%, a specificity of 100%, a positive predictive value of 100%, a negative predictive value of 78.57%, and a diagnostic accuracy of 95.04%. Lesion size did not affect the diagnostic rate (<i>P</i>=0.40). No serious complications of the procedure were noted.<b>Conclusion:</b> Color Doppler US-guided transthoracic CNB of peripheral lung, chest wall and mediastinal lesions is a safe and inexpensive procedure. The diagnostic accuracy of color Doppler US-guided transthoracic CNB was higher than that of color Doppler US-guided transthoracic fine needle aspiration biopsy (FNAB).