Percutaneous core needle biopsy for small (≤ 10 mm) lung nodules: accurate diagnosis and complication rates

To evaluate accurate diagnosis and complication rates of percutaneous core needle biopsy (PCNB) with an automated gun for small lung nodules that are 10 mm or less in diameter. Forty-two cases of small lung nodules with diameters ≤ 10 mm (mean diameter, 9 mm) that received a PCNB were included in this study. Imaging guidance was fluoroscopy in 30 cases and computed tomography (CT) in 12 cases. Accurate diagnosis was achieved with the initial PCNB in 88.1% (37/42) of cases. Accurate diagnosis rates were 86.7% (26/30) with fluoroscopic guidance and 91.7% (11/12) with CT guidance (P > 0.05). The complication rate of PCNB was 7.1% (3/42), including hemoptysis (n=2) and pneumothorax (n=1). The complication rate was 6.7% (2/30) with fluoroscopic guidance and 8.3% (1/12) with CT guidance (P > 0.05). CONCLUSION PCNB: with an automated gun is useful for the pathologically conclusive diagnosis of small lung nodules (≤ 10 mm in diameter) using fluoroscopic or CT guidance.