Trans-sternal Percutaneous Computed Tomography Guided Core Biopsy for Anterior Mediastinal Mass: a case report Sheng-heng TSai1 i-Chen TSai1,2 Min-Chi Chen1,3 Pao-Chun Lin1 Wei-Lin TSai1 Si-Wa Chan1,4 CLayTon

Reprint requests to: Dr. I-Chen Tsai Department of Radiology, Taichung Veterans General Hospital. No. 160, Sec. 3, Taichung Harbor Road, Taichung 407, Taiwan, R.O.C. Trans-sternal percutaneous computed tomography (CT) guided biopsy for mediastinal mass is a difficult but feasible procedure. In the literature there have only been reports from four medical centers in western countries. Herein we report a case of 57-year-old man with a 38mm-sized mass in anterior mediastinum. Since the tumor access was blocked by both sternum and aortic arch branches, trans-sternal percutaneous CT-guided biopsy was the only possible way for tissue proof. The planning, imaging, and technique considerations of this procedure are discussed. With this particular case, we confirmed the feasibility of trans-sternal percutaneous CT-guided core biopsy in the Taiwanese population. Trans-sternal percutaneous CT-guided biopsy is a difficult but feasible way to sample the tissue of a mediastinal lesion. Herein we reported a case of 57-year-old man who had an anterior mediastinal mass. By using trans-sternal percutaneous CT-guided biopsy, we successfully obtained the tissue sample of the mass and the patient tolerated biopsy well.