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The Egyptian Journal of Bronchology
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  • Interventional Bronchology and pulmonology
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Yield of ultrasound-guided biopsy in anterior mediastinal lesions

Egyptian Journal of Bronchology volume 10, pages 26–32 (2016)Cite this article

Abstract

Background

Mediastinal masses span a wide histopathological and radiological spectrum. Anterior mediastinal tumors account for 50% of all mediastinal masses, including thymoma, teratoma, thyroid disease, and lymphoma. Ultrasound guidance can be used for biopsy of anterior mediastinal lesions that extend to the anterior parasternal chest wall with the advantage of being a real-time procedure and its ability to perform the biopsy at the bedside of critically ill or dyspneic patients.

Aim of the study

The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy and safety of using ultrasonography as a guiding modality during percutaneous biopsies for anterior mediastinal lesions.

Patients and methods

This prospective study for diagnostic accuracy was conducted on 22 patients with anterior mediastinal masses. In total, lesions in 19 patients were approached through parasternal approach under local anesthesia using lidocaine 2% and in two patients the lesions were approached through suprasternal approach. Lesion in one patient failed to be approached by either parasternal or suprasternal approach because of its deep location.

Results

Conclusive results were obtained in 18 patients (81.8%), nonconclusive results in three patients (13.6%), and biopsy was not performed for one patient (4.6%) because of technical difficulty. Malignant lymphoma was the most encountered pathological diagnosis. Two patients developed vasovagal attacks at the beginning of the procedure. No procedure-related mortality was encountered in this study.

Conclusion

Ultrasound-guided biopsy is a useful technique for anterior mediastinal lesions with a good diagnostic yield (81.8%) and minimal complications.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Chest Diseases, Faculty of Medicine, Cairo University, 4 Esraa St., Agouza, Giza, Cairo, 12656, Egypt

    Ahmed A. Ali & Ahmed M. Abd El-Hafeez (MD)

  2. Department of Tropical Diseases, Faculty of Medicine, Cairo University, Cairo, Egypt

    Waleed F. Fathallah

  3. Department of Chest Diseases, Giza Chest Hospital, Giza, Egypt

    Shaimaa M. Hamdy

Authors
  1. Ahmed A. Ali
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  2. Ahmed M. Abd El-Hafeez
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  3. Waleed F. Fathallah
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  4. Shaimaa M. Hamdy
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Ahmed M. Abd El-Hafeez.

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Ali, A.A., Abd El-Hafeez, A.M., Fathallah, W.F. et al. Yield of ultrasound-guided biopsy in anterior mediastinal lesions. Egypt J Bronchol 10, 26–32 (2016). https://doi.org/10.4103/1687-8426.176662

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.4103/1687-8426.176662

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