OBJECTIVE: Our objective was to determine the diagnostic and cost efficacy of sonographically guided mediastinal biopsy as an alternative to CT-guided mediastinal biopsy and to review our biopsy triage experience in switching from CT to sonography. CONCLUSION: Sonography is as safe and accurate as CT and is 25% less costly than CT. Sonography proved particularly valuable for identifying vessels and perfused tissue and for permitting upright biopsy positions in dyspneic patients. When using our triage criteria, radiologists should find sonographically guided mediastinal biopsy to be an attractive alternative to CT-guided mediastinal biopsy in most patients.
OBJECTIVE: Our objective was to determine the diagnostic and cost efficacy of sonographically guided mediastinal biopsy as an alternative to CT-guided mediastinal biopsy and to review our biopsy triage experience in switching from CT to sonography. CONCLUSION: Sonography is as safe and accurate as CT and is 25% less costly than CT. Sonography proved particularly valuable for identifying vessels and perfused tissue and for permitting upright biopsy positions in dyspneic patients. When using our triage criteria, radiologists should find sonographically guided mediastinal biopsy to be an attractive alternative to CT-guided mediastinal biopsy in most patients.
Authors: Abdul Rahman Jazieh; Khaled Al Kattan; Ahmed Bamousa; Ashwaq Al Olayan; Ahmed Abdelwarith; Jawaher Ansari; Abdullah Al Twairqi; Turki Al Fayea; Khalid Al Saleh; Hamed Al Husaini; Nafisa Abdelhafiez; Mervat Mahrous; Medhat Faris; Ameen Al Omair; Adnan Hebshi; Salem Al Shehri; Foad Al Dayel; Hanaa Bamefleh; Walid Khalbuss; Sarah Al Ghanem; Shukri Loutfi; Azzam Khankan; Meshael Al Rujaib; Majed Al Ghamdi; Nagwa Ibrahim; Abdulmonem Swied; Mohammad Al Kayait; Marie Datario Journal: Ann Thorac Med Date: 2017 Oct-Dec Impact factor: 2.219