Wong R S, Ketai L, Temes R T, Follis F M, Ashby R
Department of Surgery, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque.
Ann Thorac Surg. 1995 Apr;59(4):1010-1. doi: 10.1016/0003-4975(94)00742-p.
Transthoracic percutaneous needle biopsy has become popular for evaluation of pulmonary nodules. However, it is a procedure with morbidity and mortality that is not negligible. In this article, we report massive air embolus complicating needle biopsy in a patient with amyloidosis. A negative biopsy does not exclude malignancy, and if surgical excision will be performed regardless of the result, preoperative assessment using this technique may not be necessary.
