Systemic air embolism after percutaneous transthorasic needle biopsy of the lung.

Computed tomography (CT)-guided percutaneous transthoracic biopsy of the lung is a well-established diagnostic technique, but it can pose complications to the patients. Air embolism is one of the rarest but potentially fatal complications of this procedure. The authors report a fatal case of systemic and massive air embolism to the coronary and cerebral arteries after the performance of lung biopsy. Careful reviewing of the obtained CT images during the procedure may avoid a missing systemic air embolism and can immediately provide an adequate therapy also in asymptomatic patients. This extremely rare complication is an inevitable event and may happen in spite of appropriate experience and meticulous care.