Computed tomography of fatal cerebral air embolism following percutaneous aspiration biopsy of the lung.

Air embolism complicated a thin needle aspiration performed on a patient with adult respiratory distress syndrome and on positive-pressure ventilation. Computed tomography obtained 30 h following the event demonstrated a considerable quantity of intravascular air within the cranium. Positive-pressure ventilation should be considered a relative contraindication for thin needle lung aspiration.