Table1.
Demographic and clinical characteristics of the 22 patients
| Characteristics | No. of patients (N = 22) |
|---|---|
| Age, y | |
| Median (range) | 65.5 (36–86) |
| Sex | |
| Male | 15 (68.2%) |
| Female | 7 (31.8%) |
| Diagnosis | |
| Lung cancer | 7 (31.8%) |
| Breast cancer | 3 (13.6%) |
| Colon cancer | 2 (9.1%) |
| Angiosarcoma | 2 (9.1%) |
| Esophagus cancer | 2 (9.1%) |
| Osteosarcoma | 1 (4.5%) |
| Bladder cancer | 1 (4.5%) |
| Prostate cancer | 1 (4.5%) |
| Malignant melanoma | 1 (4.5%) |
| Malignant fibrous histiocytoma | 1 (4.5%) |
| Malignant glioma | 1 (4.5%) |
| Purpose of procedures | |
| Drainage | |
| Pleural effusion | 10 (45.5%) |
| Empyema | 10 (45.5%) |
| Biopsy | 2 (9.1%) |
| Indication of axial puncture | |
| Target confined to the superior sulcus lesion | 18 (78.3%) |
| Other routes not feasible because of the tumor | 5 (21.7%) |