A Novel Laser Angle Selection System for Computed Tomography-Guided Percutaneous Transthoracic Needle Biopsies.

To evaluate a novel laser angle selection system (LASS) for improving the efficiency of a computed tomography (CT)-guided percutaneous transthoracic needle biopsy (PTNB). Thirty-eight patients referred for CT-guided PTNB were randomly separated into a LASS-assisted puncture group (18 patients) or conventional freehand control group (20 patients). The puncture time, number of control CT scans, and patients' radiation dose were compared for each group. The lesion size, target-to-pleural distance, planned puncture depth, and angle of the two groups were not significantly different. LASS-assisted PTNB significantly reduced the number of control scans (1.7 ± 0.8 vs 3.5 ± 1.5, < .001) and the mean operation time (12.0 ± 4.3 min vs 28.8 ± 13.3 min, < .001) compared with the conventional method. The corresponding room time (27.1 ± 6.6 min vs 44.1 ± 14.4 min, < .001) and total radiation dose (7.9 ± 1.0 mSv vs 10.1 ± 1.7 mSv, < .001) of each procedure also decreased significantly. Fifty-six percent (10/18) of the operations hit the target on the first needle pass when using LASS compared with 10% (2/20) using the conventional method. Compared with a conventional method, this novel laser angle simulator improves puncture efficiency with fewer needle readjustments and reduces patient radiation dose.