PERCUTANEOUS FINE NEEDLE ASPIRATION BIOPSY OF THE LUNG - A STUDY OF 1,015 PATIENTS

  • 1 January 1984
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 28  (3) , 218-224
Abstract
Fine needle aspiration biopsy (FNAB) of the lung was used in the diagnostic evaluation of 1015 patients. A diagnosis of a primary lung cancer was established in 49.4% of the cases and malignant neoplasm metastatic to the lung in 14.1%; a benign diagnosis was made in 31.1% and an inconclusive one in 5.4%. In 123 patients in whom lung tissue was also available, cancer was correctly diagnosed by FNAB in 83.8%, not diagnosed by FNAB in 14.6% and incorrectly diagnosed in 1.6%. In 37 patients without cancer, FNAB detected an infectious organism or a specific morphologic type of inflammation (abscess and granuloma).