Patient reported experiences of CT guided lung biopsy: a prospective cohort study

Abstract

BackgroundCT guided lung biopsy is a commonly performed procedure to obtain tissue for a histological diagnosis in cases of suspected lung cancer.MethodsThis is a prospective cohort study to obtain information directly from patients about their experiences of the biopsy procedure, thus obtaining a more accurate picture of complications compared with previously performed retrospective reviews. Patients participated in a post-procedure telephone interview and information was gathered about any procedural complications and personal experiences. We also compared the patient reported complications with those obtained from a retrospective review of hospital databases, analogous to previously performed retrospective studies.ResultsIn our patient group, reported procedural complication rates were 10% pneumothorax rate (4% requiring a chest drain) and 10% haemoptysis. Post-procedural pain and shortness of breath showed positive correlation, with one patient experiencing prolonged pain. No statistical difference was found between the patient reported complication rates and those obtained from retrospective review of the hospital database.ConclusionsOur study demonstrates CT guided lung biopsy is a safe procedure and is generally well tolerated. Some patients may experience significant and lasting pain and therefore should be counselled about this pre-procedure.

PET/CT-guided percutaneous biopsy of FDG-avid metastatic bone lesions in patients with advanced lung cancer: a safe and effective technique

“…Histological examination remains the “gold standard” for definitive diagnosis of lung nodules or lung metastasis. In order to obtain tissue for a histological diagnosis in patients with suspected lung cancer, CT-guided lung biopsy is commonly used [14]. But this invasive procedure is associated with the risk of complications including pain, haemoptysis (1 % to 10 %), pneumothorax (4 % to about 25 %), pneumothorax requiring a chest tube (1 % to about 4 %), air embolism, and atrial fibrillation [14–18].…”

Predictors of Technical Success and Rate of Complications of Image-Guided Percutaneous Transthoracic Lung Needle Biopsy of Pulmonary Tumors

“…In our study we observed a rate of pneumothoraces of 49.3%. Published rates vary widely, from 8–64% [ 16 – 20 ]. Of these 2–18% of patients required a chest tube [ 16 – 20 ].…”

Patterns of percutaneous transthoracic needle biopsy (PTNB) of the lung and risk of PTNB-related severe pneumothorax: A nationwide population-based study

“…The complication rate in the current study was in line with the results of previous studies. In previous studies, post-biopsy severe pneumothorax requiring intervention occurred in 1%-14.2% of patients [12,17,[26][27][28]. In a cross-sectional study conducted in 4 states in the US using state-level inpatient and ambulatory surgery databases that included 15,865 patients, the rate of pneumothorax requiring a chest tube was 6.6% (95% CI: 6.0%-7.2%) of all biopsies [17].…”