Published online Sep 25, 2015.
https://doi.org/10.3348/jksr.2015.73.4.216
Predicting Factors for Conversion from Fluoroscopy Guided Percutaneous Transthoracic Needle Biopsy to Cone-Beam CT Guided Percutaneous Transthoracic Needle Biopsy
Abstract
Purpose
To evaluate the predicting factors for conversion from fluoroscopy guided percutaneous transthoracic needle biopsy (PTNB) to cone-beam CT guided PTNB.
Materials and Methods
From January 2011 to December 2012, we retrospectively identified 38 patients who underwent cone-beam CT guided PTNB with solid pulmonary lesions, and 76 patients who underwent fluoroscopy guided PTNB were matched to the patients who underwent cone-beam CT guided PTNB for age, sex, and lesion location. We evaluated predicting factors such as, long-axis diameter, short-axis diameter, anterior-posterior diameter, and CT attenuation value of the solid pulmonary lesion affecting conversion from fluoroscopy guided PTNB to cone-beam CT guided PTNB. Pearson χ2 test, Fisher exact test, and independent t test were used in statistical analyses; in addition, we also used receiver operating characteristics curve to find the proper cut-off values affecting the conversion to cone-beam CT guided PTNB.
Results
Short-axis, long-axis, anterior-posterior diameter and CT attenuation value of the solid pulmonary lesion in patients who underwent fluoroscopy guided PTNB were 2.70 ± 1.57 cm, 3.40 ± 1.92 cm, 3.06 ± 1.81 cm, and 35.67 ± 15.70 Hounsfield unit (HU), respectively. Short-axis, long-axis, anterior-posterior diameter and CT attenuation value of the solid pulmonary lesion in patients who underwent cone-beam CT guided PTNB were 1.60 ± 1.30 cm, 2.20 ± 1.45 cm, 1.91 ± 1.99 cm, and 18.32 ± 23.11 HU, respectively. Short-axis, long-axis, anterior-posterior diameter, and CT attenuation value showed a significantly different mean value between the 2 groups (p = 0.001, p < 0.001, p = 0.003, p < 0.001, respectively). Odd ratios of CT attenuation value and short-axis diameter of the solid pulmonary lesion were 0.952 and 0.618, respectively. Proper cut-off values affecting the conversion to cone-beam CT guided PTNB were 1.65 cm (sensitivity 68.4%, specificity 71.1%) in short-axis diameter and 29.50 HU (sensitivity 65.8%, specificity 65.8%) in CT attenuation value.
Conclusion
Low CT attenuation value and small short-axis diameter of the solid pulmonary lesion affect conversion from fluoroscopy guided PTNB to cone-beam CT guided PTNB.
Fig. 1
B. CT mean attenuation value is measured using free-drawing ROI on the mediastinal setting of axial image. C. The nodule was not detected on fluoroscopy performed with the patient in supine position. D. The operator accordingly performed cone-beam CT guided PTNB with careful adjustment of the needle. The result of PTNB indicated a meta-static adenocarcinoma. HRCT = high-resolution CT, PTNB = percutaneous transthoracic needle biopsy, ROI = region of interest, RUL = right upper lobe
A small pulmonary nodule in the right upper lobe of a 47-year-old woman with history of breast cancer.
A. About 1 cm-sized well-marginated, small, round nodule in RUL is noted on the lung setting axial image of the HRCT.
Fig. 2
B. CT mean attenuation value is subsequently measured using free-drawing ROI on the unenhanced axial image. C. Long-axis and short axis diameters are also measured on the coronal reconstructed image. D. Fluoroscopic image shows the mass with well-defined margin on the left side. The operator next performed fluoroscopy-guided PTNB with patient in prone position and careful adjustment of the needle; the result of PTNB indicated a squamous cell carcinoma. PTNB = percutaneous transthoracic needle biopsy, ROI = region of interest
A solitary pulmonary mass suspicious for malignancy in the right lower lobe of a 72-year-old man, which was well-marginated, irregular-shaped, and abutting the pleura.
A. Antero-posterior diameter of the mass is measured to about 3.61 cm on the unenhanced axial image of the chest CT.
Fig. 3
B. Box plot showing CT attenuation value of pulmonary lesion of the above 2 groups. *, • = outlier. AP = anterior to posterior, PTNB = percutaneous transthoracic needle biopsy
Box plots of predicting independent variables in conversion of fluoroscopy guided PTNB to cone-beam CT guided PTNB.
A. Box plot comparing the short-axis diameter, long-axis diameter, and AP diameter of pulmonary lesion between the patients who underwent fluoroscopy-guided PTNB vs. cone-beam CT guided PTNB.
Fig. 4
Receive operating characteristics curve (ROC curve). This graph showed statistically significant independent variables, short-axis diameter and CT attenuation value of the pulmonary lesion. AUC of these variables were 0.753 and 0.722, respectively. We set a cut-off value to 29.50 of CT attenuation that showed 65.8% of sensitivity and specificity, respectively; in addition, we set a cut-off value to 1.65 cm of short-axis diameter that showed 68.4% of sensitivity and 71.1% of specificity.
AUC = area under the curve
Table 1
Demographics and Image Characteristics between Patients Underwent Fluoroscopy Guided PTNB and Underwent Cone-Beam CT Guided PTNB
Table 2
Pathologic Results of the Percutaneous Transthoracic Needle Biopsies