Purpose: This study evaluated whether or not patterns of emphysema and their qualitative and quantitative severity can predict the risk of complications with post-computed tomography (CT)-guided transthoracic lung biopsy (TTLB).
Materials and methods: Three hundred and ninety-seven patients who underwent CT-guided TTLB in 2010-2018 were retrospectively reviewed. The severity of emphysema and presence of perilesional emphysema were assessed visually using the Fleischner Society classification. Ninety seven of the 397 patients underwent quantitative analysis of emphysema. Complications, including pneumothorax, chest tube insertion, and hemorrhage, were assessed by post-TTLB CT and radiographic imaging. The grade of hemorrhage was categorized into three groups. Independent risk factors for pneumothorax and hemorrhage were assessed by univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses.
Results: Pneumothorax occurred in 48.6% of cases and hemorrhage in 70.5%. Perilesional emphysema was significantly associated with pneumothorax (odds ratio 6.720; 95% confidence interval 3.265-13.831, p < 0.001) and hemorrhage (odds ratio 3.877; 95% confidence interval 1.796-8.367; p = 0.001). The severity of visual and quantitative emphysema was not a significant risk factor for pneumothorax or hemorrhage (p > 0.05). Perilesional emphysema was significantly associated with the grade of hemorrhage (p < 0.001).
Conclusion: Perilesional emphysema can estimate the risk of iatrogenic complications from CT-guided TTLB.
Keywords: Biopsy; Emphysema; Hemorrhage; Pneumothorax.