Diagnostic Yield of Ultrasound-guided Trucut Biopsy in Diagnosis of Peripheral Lung Malignancies

Introduction While computed tomography (CT) guided lung biopsy has been standard in histological diagnosis of pulmonary lesions, its use is limited to the interventional radiologists only. Ultrasound (US) guided biopsy of pulmonary lesions, which can be performed in-clinic by the pulmonologists only, is becoming a more popular technique. It also has the edge of real-time techniques, multi-planar imaging, and no radiation exposure to the patients. Methods This is a retrospective review of all the patients presenting with pleural-based lung lesions who underwent US-guided biopsy for diagnosis in the Department of Pulmonology, Liaquat University of Medical and Health Sciences Hospital, Hyderabad, Pakistan from 1(st) January 2013 till 31(st) December 2017. The diagnostic yield, sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy of US-guided biopsies were evaluated for diagnoses of peripheral lung malignancies. Results Ultrasound-guided biopsies for lung lesions has a diagnostic yield of 88.3%, sensitivity of 95.80%, and specificity of 90% with an accuracy of 95.35%. Pneumothorax as an immediate complication was seen only in 1.5% cases. Conclusion US-guided biopsies are a much safer diagnostic alternative to CT-guided biopsy for lung lesions and have high diagnostic yield. It doesn’t require special radiological interventionists, can be performed at patients' bedsides, and the equipment is not as expensive.