Air embolism in CT-guided transthoracic needle biopsy: emphasis on pulmonary vein injury.

• Pulmonary vein injury during CT-guided biopsy was identifiable on CT in most of the patients (88.9% [24/27]). • The veins beyond the target lesion (70.8% [17/24]) were injured more frequently than the veins in the needle pathway before the target lesion (29.2% [7/24]). • Avoiding the distinguishable pulmonary vein along the pathway or shooting range of the needle on CT may reduce the air embolism risk.