Radiology, Vol 194, 867-870, Copyright © 1995 by Radiological Society of North America

ARTICLES

Diffuse pleural thickening: percutaneous CT-guided cutting needle biopsy

EM Scott, TJ Marshall, CD Flower and S Stewart
Department of Radiology, Addenbrooke's Hospital, Cambridge, England.

PURPOSE: To assess the diagnostic yield of computed tomography (CT)- guided percutaneous cutting needle biopsy of diffuse pleural thickening. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In 42 consecutive adult patients with diffuse pleural disease seen, 45 CT-guided percutaneous biopsies were performed with an 18-gauge cutting needle powered by a hand-held, spring-operated biopsy instrument. Results were assessed retrospectively. RESULTS: Sufficient pleural tissue for histologic diagnosis was obtained in 42 of the 45 biopsies, with a correct histologic diagnosis made in 39 of the 42 specimens. Specificity and sensitivity for helping differentiate malignant from benign disease were 100% and 83%, respectively. Positive and negative predictive values were 1.0 and 0.60, respectively. By combining findings at biopsy and at CT (presence or absence of pleural thickness greater than 1 cm, mediastinal-circumferential involvement, irregular contour), sensitivity and negative predictive values reached 100% and 1.0, respectively. CONCLUSION: Combined findings of CT-guided percutaneous cutting needle biopsy and CT are useful in first-line investigation of diffuse pleural thickening.

This article has been cited by other articles:

				P. P. Agarwal, J. M. Seely, F. R. Matzinger, R. M. MacRae, R. A. Peterson, D. E. Maziak, and C. J. Dennie Pleural Mesothelioma: Sensitivity and Incidence of Needle Track Seeding after Image-guided Biopsy versus Surgical Biopsy Radiology, November 1, 2006; 241(2): 589 - 594. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				D R Warakaulle and Z C Traill Imaging of pleural disease Imaging, October 1, 2004; 16(1): 10 - 21. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				N A Maskell and R J A Butland BTS guidelines for the investigation of a unilateral pleural effusion in adults Thorax, May 1, 2003; 58(90002): ii8 - 17. [Full Text]

				W. Yoon, Y. H. Kim, J. K. Kim, Y. C. Kim, J. G. Park, and H. K. Kang Massive Hemoptysis: Prediction of Nonbronchial Systemic Arterial Supply with Chest CT Radiology, April 1, 2003; 227(1): 232 - 238. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				R. F. Adams, W. Gray, R. J. O. Davies, and F. V. Gleeson Percutaneous Image-Guided Cutting Needle Biopsy of the Pleura in the Diagnosis of Malignant Mesothelioma Chest, December 1, 2001; 120(6): 1798 - 1802. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				R. F. Adams and F. V. Gleeson Percutaneous Image-guided Cutting-Needle Biopsy of the Pleura in the Presence of a Suspected Malignant Effusion Radiology, May 1, 2001; 219(2): 510 - 514. [Abstract] [Full Text]

				B. Ghaye and R.F. Dondelinger Imaging guided thoracic interventions Eur. Respir. J., March 1, 2001; 17(3): 507 - 528. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				J. Hierholzer, L. Luo, R. C. Bittner, C. Stroszczynski, R.-J. Schroder, N. Schoenfeld, P. Dorow, R. Loddenkemper, and A. Grassot MRI and CT in the Differential Diagnosis of Pleural Disease Chest, September 1, 2000; 118(3): 604 - 609. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				A. Heilo, A. E. Stenwig, and O. P. Solheim Malignant Pleural Mesothelioma: US-guided Histologic Core-Needle Biopsy Radiology, June 1, 1999; 211(3): 657 - 659. [Abstract] [Full Text]