ASPIRATION BIOPSIES FROM DIAGNOSTICALLY DIFFICULT PULMONARY LESIONS

Abstract

A consecutive material of 244 cases of transthoracic aspiration biopsies collected in a 2 yr period is presented. The biopsy method, indications and contraindications are described. The sensitivity of the biopsy method concerning malignant tumor cells and suspected malignant tumor cells was 82.8%; the specificity was 94.9%. The biopsy method might be applied earlier in the sequence of preoperative diagnostic procedures.