Transthoracic fine needle aspiration and core biopsy of pulmonary lesions. A study of 296 patients.

Objective: To retrospectively investigate and compare the usefulness of transthoracic fine needle aspiration (FNA), core biopsy and a combination of the two in the diagnosis of pulmonary lesions.

Study Design: Two hundred ninety-six patients who had undergone FNA, core biopsy or both for lung lesions were divided into malignant and benign groups according to the final diagnoses, which were based on the cytologic and histopathologic findings combined with clinical features. In each group, the diagnostic usefulness of FNA, core biopsy and a combination of the two were evaluated by comparing the results of each with the final diagnoses.