Takahisa Matsuoka1, Makoto Sonobe, Hiroshi Date. 1. Department of Thoracic Surgery, National Hospital Organization Himeji Medical Center, 68 Honmachi, Himeji City, Hyogo, 670-8520, Japan, matsuoka1971114@yahoo.co.jp.
Abstract
PURPOSE: Intraoperative fine-needle aspiration biopsy (FNA) is one of the most important diagnostic tools for undiagnosed lung nodules suspected of being lung cancer; however, the sensitivity and safety of FNA, including the risk of intrapleural dissemination of cancer cells, have not been established. METHODS: Between 2006 and 2008, 324 patients underwent lung resection for cancers located in the lung periphery. Intraoperative FNA for definite diagnosis was performed immediately after thoracotomy in 147 (45.4%) of these patients, but not in the other 177. RESULTS: A diagnosis of lung cancer was obtained by the intraoperative FNA in 124 (84.4%) of the 147 patients. During a median follow-up of 55 months, pleural dissemination or malignant effusion ipsilateral to the operated side as the first recurrent site occurred in 11 (7.4%) of the 147 patients who underwent the needle biopsy and 10 (5.6%) of the 177 patients who did not. This difference was not significant (P = 0.5046). CONCLUSION: Intraoperative FNA was safe and useful for the diagnosis of peripheral lung cancer and did not increase the risk of pleural dissemination in this series.
PURPOSE: Intraoperative fine-needle aspiration biopsy (FNA) is one of the most important diagnostic tools for undiagnosed lung nodules suspected of being lung cancer; however, the sensitivity and safety of FNA, including the risk of intrapleural dissemination of cancer cells, have not been established. METHODS: Between 2006 and 2008, 324 patients underwent lung resection for cancers located in the lung periphery. Intraoperative FNA for definite diagnosis was performed immediately after thoracotomy in 147 (45.4%) of these patients, but not in the other 177. RESULTS: A diagnosis of lung cancer was obtained by the intraoperative FNA in 124 (84.4%) of the 147 patients. During a median follow-up of 55 months, pleural dissemination or malignant effusion ipsilateral to the operated side as the first recurrent site occurred in 11 (7.4%) of the 147 patients who underwent the needle biopsy and 10 (5.6%) of the 177 patients who did not. This difference was not significant (P = 0.5046). CONCLUSION: Intraoperative FNA was safe and useful for the diagnosis of peripheral lung cancer and did not increase the risk of pleural dissemination in this series.