The value of immediate cytologic evaluation for needle aspiration lung biopsy

RATIONALE AND OBJECTIVES. The authors evaluate the role of immediate cytologic evaluation (ICE) with fine-needle aspiration biopsy (FNAB) for lung lesions at highest risk for pneumothorax. METHODS. A prospective randomized study was conducted of 80 patients with lung lesions surrounded by aerated parenchyma undergoing FNAB with and without ICE (47 and 33 patients, respectively). An analysis of needle passes, procedure time, complications, specimen adequacy, diagnostic yield, and accuracy of procedure was made. RESULTS. There was an increased number of needle passes with ICE (≤ three passes: 23% [11 biopsies] versus 3% [1 biopsy]; P = 0.01). Fluoroscopic procedures took longer with ICE (median time: 15 versus 9 minutes; P = 0.002) with no difference in complication rates. Specimen adequacy was similar (74% and 64%) and the procedure was diagnostic in 79% (37 biopsies) with ICE and in 70% (33 biopsies) without ICE. There were no significant differences in the sensitivity, specificity, or accuracy of the biopsy. CONCLUSIONS. Immediate cytologic evaluation improved results marginally with increased procedure time and needle passes. Immediate cytologic evaluation may be most useful for lesions at lowest risk of complications to assure that a second procedure is not required.