[CT-guided percutaneous needle biopsy for diagnosis of atypical pulmonary tuberculosis: analysis of clinical, imaging and pathological data in 15 cases].

Objective: To explore the clinical value of CT-guided percutaneous needle biopsy (PCNB) for diagnosis of atypical pulmonary tuberculosis.

Methods: The data from 15 patients undergoing diagnostic PCNB for pulmonary tuberculosis were retrospectively analyzed. Prior to PCNB, definitive diagnosis failed to be obtained from other examinations including sputum smear in 10 cases, fiberoptic bronchoscopy in 12, chest X-ray in 13, CT scan in 15, and position emission tomography (PET) with CT examination in 1 case.