Systemic Air Embolism after Percutaneous Lung Biopsy: A Manageable Complication

摘要

CT-guided percutaneous biopsy is a resourceful and widely used tool to evaluate pulmonary nodules that frequently avoids costly and unnecessary surgeries. Severe complications occur in less than 1% of cases and include gas embolism, which is rarely documented. We report a case of gas embolism after transthoracic biopsies and discuss the pathophysiology and the benefits of early diagnosis and proper management. Keywords: Computed tomography, Lung tumor, CT guided lung biopsy, Air embolism, Gas embolismCASE REPORTA 57-year-old female with history of locally advanced squamous cell carcinoma of the larynx and tracheostomy underwent a routine cervical CT scan, which revealed a cavitary lung nodule in the right upper lobe, measuring 2.5 × 1.4 cm, that was suspicious for malignancy (Figure 1). Open in a separate windowFigure 1 57 year old female with systemic air embolism after percutaneous lung biopsy.FINDINGS: Axial CT scan (A) and reformatted images (coronal-B and sagittal-C) shows a cavitary lung nodule (black arrow) in the right upper pulmonary lobe, suspicious for malignancy.TECHNIQUE: Axial non-enhanced CT, 300mAs,120kV, 3mm slice thickness.