Comparison of bronchial brushing and percutaneous needle aspiration biopsy in the diagnosis of malignant lung lesions.

The results of 100 bronchial brushings and 80 percutaneous needle aspiration biopsies of the lung performed in the same department were analyzed for their accuracy in the diagnosis of pulmonary neoplasms. While both procedures have a high degree of reliability, the aspiration needle biopsy appears to be the procedure of choice in smaller, more peripheral lesions, in Pancoast tumors, and whenever a metastatic neoplasm is suspected.