The current nonsurgical techniques available to diagnose small peripheral lung lesions (SPLL) are limited either by low accuracy or by possible complications. The diagnostic yield of bronchoscopy for SPLL may be lower than 30%. On the other hand, transthoracic needle aspiration may reach a diagnostic yield of over 85% in SPLL but it is associated with increased pneumothorax rates that range from 23 to 44%. [click link for full article]
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