Diagnostic Accuracy of a Computed TomographyGuided Transthoracic Needle Biopsy for GroundGlass Opacities and Subsolid Pulmonary Nodules

Purpose The increasing use of computed tomography (CT) imaging has led to the detection of more ground -glass nodules (GGNs) and subsolid nodules (SSNs), which may be malignant and require a biopsy for proper diagnosis. Approximately 75% of persistent GGNs can be attributed to adenocarcinoma in situ or minimally invasive adenocarcinoma. A CT -guided biopsy has been proven to be a reliable procedure with high diagnostic performance. However, the diagnostic accuracy and safety of a CT -guided biopsy for GGNs and SSNs with solid components <= 6 mm are still uncertain. The aim of this study is to assess the diagnostic accuracy of a CT -guided core needle biopsy (CNB) for GGN and SSNs with solid components <= 6 mm. Methods This is a retrospective study of patients who underwent CT -guided CNB for the evaluation of GGNs and SSNs with solid components <= 6 mm between February 2020 and January 2023. Biopsy findings were compared to the final diagnosis determined by definite histopathologic examination and clinical course. Results A total of 22 patients were enrolled, with a median age of 74 years (IQR: 68-81). A total of 22 nodules were assessed, comprising 15 (68.2%) SSNs with a solid component measuring <= 6 mm and seven (31.8%) pure GGNs. The histopathological examination revealed that 12 (54.5%) were diagnosed as malignant, nine (40.9%) as benign, and one (4.5%) as non -diagnostic. The overall diagnostic accuracy and sensitivity for malignancy were 86.36% and 85.7%, respectively. Conclusion A CT -guided CNB for GGNs and SSNs with solid components measuring <= 6 mm appears to have a high diagnostic accuracy.