[Technique and results of percutaneous transthoracal fine-needle biopsy of lung lesions (author's transl)].

Find needle biopsy of tumours of the lung and mediastinum represents an accurate method which can be performed pain-free and rapidly without undue effort and cost. It can be repeated at any desired time. Absolute contraindications are very rare. This method can be applied also in outpatients, provided certain precautions are observed. In many cases, it eliminates the far greater risk of exploratory thoracotomy. Both peripheral and central lung tumours, including mediastinal tumours, can be identified and differentiated. More than nine out of ten bronchial carcinomas are clearly identified. In 60--70% of all punctures, the pathologist is successful in accurately establishing the type of cell involved. As far as the patient himself is concerned, the method hardly involves any pain and does not cause much discomfort. A frequent complication is the usually asymptomatic pneumothorax, which occurs in less than 30% of all punctures. In a few rare cases, suction drainage will be necessary. Generally speaking, and in all other respects, fine needle biopsy is a low-risk procedure.