Hiroaki Ishii, Presenter: Nothing to Disclose

Takao Hiraki MD, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Hideo Gobara MD, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Hiroyasu Fujiwara MD, PhD, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Hidefumi Mimura MD, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Susumu Kanazawa MD, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Kotaro Yasui MD, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Tetsuya Doke MD, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Takashi Mukai MD, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Hironori Kurokawa, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Yoshitomo Ando, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Soichiro Hase MD, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Toshihiro Iguchi MD, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Takayuki Yabuki, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Kenichi Omae, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Nobuhisa Tajiri MD, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Toshiharu Mitsuhashi, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

To minimize a risk of systemic air embolism as a complication of percutaneous CT-guided lung biopsy, recognising the risk factors for it is necessary. However, such risk factors have been poorly understood.

This was a case-control study in order to determine risk factors for systemic air embolism during CT-guided lung biopsy. A total of 2216 biopsy procedures were performed between April 2000 and April 2011 at 11 institutions in Japan. There were ten cases of systemic air embolism and 2206 controls. Odds ratios for systemic air embolism were calculated.

The crude odds ratio was ∞ during procedures accompanied by parenchymal haemorrhage compared with those that were not accompanied by it. The crude odds ratio (95% confidence interval) was 5.25 (1.11 to 24.8) for the lesions in the lower lobe compared with those in the upper and middle lobes. The adjusted odds ratio (95% confidence interval) was 5.63 (1.05 to 30.2) for the use of a biopsy needle > 20 gauge compared with the use of a 20-gauge needle.

Parenchymal haemorrhage during the procedure, lesions in the lower lobe, and the use of larger biopsy needles may be risk factors for systemic air embolism during percutaneous CT-guided lung biopsy in the population studied. Although the present study is inherently preliminary, our findings may provide clues towards minimising the risk of this complication.

Our findings may provide clues towards minimising the risk of systemic air embolism during percutaneous CT-guided lung biopsy.

Ishii, H, Hiraki, T, Gobara, H, Fujiwara, H, Mimura, H, Kanazawa, S, Yasui, K, Doke, T, Mukai, T, Kurokawa, H, Ando, Y, Hase, S, Iguchi, T, Yabuki, T, Omae, K, Tajiri, N, Mitsuhashi, T, Risk Factors for Systemic Air Embolism as a Complication of Percutaneous CT-guided Lung Biopsy: Multicentre Case-Control Study in Japan.  Radiological Society of North America 2012 Scientific Assembly and Annual Meeting, November 25 - November 30, 2012 ,Chicago IL. http://archive.rsna.org/2012/12032086.html