Percutaneous Lung Biopsy: Evidence-Based Techniques to Reduce Complications

Image-guided percutaneous lung biopsy is a commonly performed procedure that provides cells or tissue for pathologic diagnosis, typically under computed tomography (CT) guidance. The most common indication is evaluation of a suspicious pulmonary nodule concerning for malignancy, for which percutaneous lung biopsy has a diagnostic yield of > 90%.[1] [2] These lesions may be found incidentally, during low-dose lung cancer screening, or as part of the evaluation of a symptomatic patient. Beyond primary malignancy, percutaneous lung biopsy may be used for staging in patients with lung nodules in the setting of known extra-thoracic malignancy, or in cases of persistent pulmonary infection despite empiric treatment.