Abstract
Computed tomography (CT)-guided lung biopsy is a useful method for establishing the pathological diagnosis
of a lung nodule, mass, or even ground glass opacity. The biopsy is performed with a 20G semi-automatic biopsy
needle under local anesthesia. The exclusion criteria include uncontrollable coagulopathy and serious respiratory
distress.
The clinical application of CT is varied, i.e., to differentiate between primary lung cancer and lung metastasis,
to detect epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) mutations for treatment with EGFR-tyrosine kinase inhibitor,
and to exclude benign deceases, such as tuberculoma, etc.
The minor complications include pneumothorax and lung hemorrhage. Pneumothorax can sometimes require
the use of a chest tube. The serious complications include air embolism and dissemination via the needle tract. Air
embolism may occur and cause neurological deficits by cerebral artery occlusion or cardiac arrest due to coronary
artery occlusion.
