Value of pulmonary function test as a predicting factor of pneumothorax in CT-guided needle aspiration of the lung.

Kim, Yeon Jae; Kim, Chang Ho; Lee, Yeung Suk; Park, Jae Yong; Kang, Duk Sik; Jung, Tae Hoon

doi:1993.40.3.259

Tuberc Respir Dis > Volume 40(3); 1993 > Article

Original Article

Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases 1993;40(3):259-266.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.4046/trd.1993.40.3.259 Published online June 1, 1993.

Value of pulmonary function test as a predicting factor of pneumothorax in CT-guided needle aspiration of the lung.

Yeon Jae Kim¹, Chang Ho Kim¹, Yeung Suk Lee¹, Jae Yong Park¹, Duk Sik Kang², Tae Hoon Jung¹

¹Department of Internal Medicine, Kyungpook National University, Kyungpook, Korea
²Department of Diagnostic Radiology, School of Medicine, Kyungpook National University, Kyungpook, Korea

Abstract

Background
To evaluate the risk factor of pneumothorax (PNX) which is the most common complication of CT.guided needle aspiration of the lung, we have examined the frequency of PNX according to the presence of obstructive ventilatory impairment determined by pulmonary function tests.
Methods
A comparative study of analysis of forced expiratory volume and folw-volume curves, and determinations of diffusing capacity taken before procedure were made between each 16 cases with PNX and controls with no PNX. Each of the control group was matched for sex, age, height, and size and depth of lesion with the former.
Results
1) In comparison of vital capacity and parameters derived from forced expiratory volume curve between two groups, VC and FVC were not significantly different, whereas FEV₁, FEV₁/ FVC%, and FEF25- 75% showed a significant decrease in the PNX group. Also, in the PNX group, all the observed values of parameters analyzed from flow-volune curve were significantly reduced in the PNX group compared with those in the control group. 2) The diffusing capacity tended to decrease along with varying individual differences in the PNX group. 3) Patients who had obstructive ventilatory impairment according to the results of pulmonary function tests experienced a twofold increase in the frequency of PNX and a sixfold increase in the frequency of chest tube drainage for treatment of PNX compared with those whose results were normal.
Conclusion
These findings suggest that the exact evaluation of obstructive lung disease determined by pulmonary function test be considered assessing a pastient’s risk for PNX in the patients who will take the CT-guided needle aspiration of the lung.

Key Words: Computed tomogram-guided needle aspiration, Pneumothorax, Pulmonary function test