CT-guided biopsies in lung infections in patients with haematological malignancies

CT-guided transparietal lung biopsy in imaging makes it possible to find the pathogenic agent in half of all fungal infections and most bacterial infections (sensitivity = 55%, specificity = 100%). Performance is decreased in consolidations (50% of infections) compared to masses. Complications, pneumothorax, alveolar bleeding and hemoptysis are generally benign and rarely (< 5%) require specific treatment. On the other hand, the diagnostic performance increases significantly with the calibre of 18G co-axial systems compared to 20G. The risk is not related to the number of samples or platelet levels.