Ultrasound guided tumour biopsy in the anterior mediastinum. An alternative to thoracotomy and mediastinoscopy.

To evaluate percutaneous ultrasound (US) guided tumour biopsy of the anterior mediastinum all patients scheduled for open mediastinal biopsy were considered for percutaneous biopsy during a 2-year period. US guided biopsy was chosen when CT had shown the tumour to be in contact with the thoracic wall. US guided biopsy was performed in 23 patients on 28 occasions. The procedure was technically successful in all cases and no complications occurred. In 27 of 28 cases the biopsy diagnosis was identical to the final diagnosis. In one patient with a malignant lymphoma a false diagnosis of connective tissue remnant was reached. US guided tumour biopsy of the anterior mediastinum is a safe, cost-effective and reliable method and a good alternative to the traditional biopsy techniques via mediastinoscopy or thoracotomy.