PURPOSE: To evaluate the efficacy of tract embolization in preventing pneumothorax and chest tube placement after CT-guided percutaneous lung biopsy. MATERIALS AND METHODS: PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, and Cochrane Library were searched through March 2025 for studies comparing tract embolization versus no embolization. RR with 95% CI were pooled using random-effects models. ARR and NNT were calculated using the Control Event Rate (CER). Subgroup analyses were performed by embolic agent, study design, and chest tube placement criteria. Certainty of evidence was assessed using the GRADE approach. All analyses were conducted in R. RESULTS: =42.3%). CONCLUSION: Tract embolization after CT-guided percutaneous lung biopsy was associated with reduced pneumothorax and chest tube placement rates, with consistent reductions across blood patch, gelatin-based agents, and hydrogel. These findings support tract embolization as an effective adjunct to reduce procedure-related complications.
Giancristoforo et al. (Fri,) studied this question.