Computed tomography-guided percutaneous transthoracic needle biopsy for solitary pulmonary nodules in diameter less than 20 mm

To evaluate the diagnostic value of computed tomography (CT)-guided percutaneous lung biopsy for solitary pulmonary nodules (SPN) < 20 mm. A total of 248 patients who were diagnosed a SPN of < 20 mm underwent CT-guided percutaneous transthoracic needle biopsy were reviewed. Specimens of 248 patients were obtained successfully. Around 174 cases were proved to be malignancies and 74 cases of benign lesions by biopsy. About 178 malignancies (71.8%) and 70 benign lesions were proved by surgery and clinical course. The diagnostic accuracy was 96.8%. The diagnostic accuracy of large nodules group (>10 and < 20 mm) was 99.3%, higher than 93.5% of small nodules group (≤10 mm) with statistical significance. The incidence of phenmothorax and hemorrhage was 16.1% and 6.8%, respectively. No death-related complications happened. The incidence of phenmothorax was related to puncture times (P = .013) and the length of puncture needle in lung tissues (P = .019). CT-guided percutaneous lung biopsy for SPN of < 20 mm is an efficient and safe diagnostic method.