Clinical value of percutaneous intrathoracic fine-needle aspiration biopsy. An analysis of 500 cases.

The clinical value of percutaneous pulmonary aspiration biopsy was assessed in 500 patients. Conclusive information was obtained in 53.6% (i.e. with decisive value in 27.4 and supportive value in 26.2%). Inconclusive results were reported in 44.8% of the cases and in 1.6% the cytologic report was misleading. Pneumothorax occurred in 25% of the series and required intubation in 4.4%. Percutaneous transthoracic fine-needle aspiration biopsy provides a simple means of obtaining positive diagnostic information of pulmonary lesions suspected to be malignant.