Percutaneous lung biopsy: comparison between an augmented reality CT navigation system and standard CT-guided technique

Percutaneous lung biopsies (PLBs) performed for the evaluation of pulmonary masses require image guidance to avoid critical structures. A new CT navigation system (SIRIO, "Sistema robotizzato assistito per il puntamento intraoperatorio") for PLBs was validated. The local Institutional Review Board approved this retrospective study. Image-guided PLBs in 197 patients were performed with a CT navigation system (SIRIO). The procedures were reviewed based on the number of CT scans, patients' radiation exposure and procedural time recorded. Comparison was performed with a group of 72 patients undergoing standard CT-guided PLBs. Sensitivity, specificity and overall diagnostic accuracy were assessed in both groups. SIRIO-guided PLBs showed a significant reduction in procedure time, number of required CT scans and the radiation dose administered to patients (). In terms of diagnostic accuracy, SIRIO proved to be more accurate for small-sized lesions (20 mm) than standard CT-guidance. SIRIO proved to be a reliable and effective tool when performing CT-guided PLBs and was especially useful for sampling small (20 mm) lesions.