ABSTRACT
The discovery of a pulmonary nodule or mass usually leads to a clinical assessment
of patient risk factors for malignancy and an imaging workup. The latter may include
appropriately timed follow-up, computed tomography with the possible addition of a
computed tomographic nodule enhancement study, positron emission tomography, and/or
percutaneous biopsy of the lung lesion or associated lymph nodes or metastatic lesions.
This article reviews the rationale for the imaging workup of lung lesions and the
details of percutaneous needle biopsy, including risks, technical feasibility, techniques,
needle systems, cytological/pathological evaluation, accuracy, complications, and
complication management.
KEYWORDS
Lung biopsy - complications - techniques
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Elizabeth H MooreM.D.
Department of Radiology, University of California Davis School of Medicine, University
of California Davis Medical Center
4860 Y St., Ste. 3100, Sacramento, CA 95817
eMail: elizabeth.moore@ucdmc.ucdavis.edu
