Percutaneous Transthoracic Needle Biopsy for Diagnosis of Thorax Malignancies: Nursing Perspective

Lung nodules/masses under suspicion of malignancy are a clinical problem frequently encountered in patients with or without known cancer. Percutaneous transthoracic needle biopsy (PTNB) has been a minimal invasive diagnostic approach to patients with cancer in whom routine clinical and radiological diagnostic efforts have failed. Nursing care of patients before, during, and after the PTNB is not complex, but it is a new concept. Patients and their family members need to be educated about the intent and outcomes of the procedure, as well as its complications. The purpose of this article is to review the theoretical aspect of the procedure and outline basic steps of computed tomography-guided PTNB. Preoperative patient education and preparation, intraoperative nursing interventions, and postoperative patient care are discussed.