Systemic air embolism after transthoracic lung biopsy: A case report and review of literature

Figure 1 Chest computed tomography (CT) demonstrates the left upper lobe mass during the biopsy. The mass abuts the chest wall with mild adjacent emphysematous changes without large bullae.

Figure 2 Axial images in soft tissue and lung window through the lower mediastinum, display a small amount of air in the epicardium (arrows), thought to be along the peripheral coronary vessels.

Figure 3 Head CT in brain and soft tissue windows demonstrates abnormal air along the left vertex subarachnoid spaces and cortical vessels (arrows), suggesting air embolus.