Does transbronchial lung cryobiopsy improve diagnostic yield of digital tomosynthesis-assisted electromagnetic navigation guided bronchoscopic biopsy of pulmonary nodules? A pilot study. 2022

Bryan S Benn, and Cameron G Gmehlin, and Jonathan S Kurman, and John Doan
Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI, USA. Electronic address: bbenn@mcw.edu.

Bronchoscopic biopsies have limited sensitivity for small, peripheral lung nodules. Electromagnetic navigation guided bronchoscopy (ENB) with fluoroscopic digital tomosynthesis and a 1.1 mm cryoprobe for transbronchial lung cryobiopsy (TBLC) may improve diagnostic yield. We evaluated the diagnostic yield and safety of this approach. 42 patients (45 nodules) underwent sequential biopsies by transbronchial needle aspiration (TBNA), then forceps biopsy (FB), and finally TBLC. Demographic data, nodule characteristics, biopsy results, and procedural complications were recorded. Nodules were predominantly solid (n = 35, 78%), without a bronchus sign (n = 30, 67%), and 33% (n = 15) were <2 cm in all dimensions (mean axial: 25.7 ± 15.3 mm, coronal: 21.0 ± 10.1 mm, sagittal 25.5 ± 16.5 mm). TBNA was the most informative biopsy modality (31/45 diagnoses total, five unique, 69% modality diagnostic yield (MDY)) compared to FB (27/45, one unique, 60% MDY) or TBLC (27/45, six unique, 60% MDY). FB contributed four additional diagnoses, improving diagnostic yield to 80% (36/45). TBLC contributed six additional diagnoses for a final diagnostic yield of 93% (42/45). No bleeding that required intervention or pneumothoraxes occurred. In unadjusted logistic regression models, solid nodules had increased odds of obtaining a diagnosis with TBNA (OR: 5.06; 95% CI: 1.14-22.49) and increased axial dimension nodule size had increased odds of obtaining a diagnosis with TBLC (OR: 1.10; 95% CI: 1.02-1.19). ENB guided TBLC of lung nodules appears safe and may increase the final diagnostic yield when combined with other modalities. Future studies identifying nodule characteristics and comparing biopsy tools may clarify the most efficacious approach to maximize yield and minimize risk.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D008168 Lung Either of the pair of organs occupying the cavity of the thorax that effect the aeration of the blood. Lungs
D008175 Lung Neoplasms Tumors or cancer of the LUNG. Cancer of Lung,Lung Cancer,Pulmonary Cancer,Pulmonary Neoplasms,Cancer of the Lung,Neoplasms, Lung,Neoplasms, Pulmonary,Cancer, Lung,Cancer, Pulmonary,Cancers, Lung,Cancers, Pulmonary,Lung Cancers,Lung Neoplasm,Neoplasm, Lung,Neoplasm, Pulmonary,Pulmonary Cancers,Pulmonary Neoplasm
D010865 Pilot Projects Small-scale tests of methods and procedures to be used on a larger scale if the pilot study demonstrates that these methods and procedures can work. Pilot Studies,Pilot Study,Pilot Project,Project, Pilot,Projects, Pilot,Studies, Pilot,Study, Pilot
D001999 Bronchoscopy Endoscopic examination, therapy or surgery of the bronchi. Bronchoscopic Surgical Procedures,Surgical Procedures, Bronchoscopic,Bronchoscopic Surgery,Surgery, Bronchoscopic,Bronchoscopic Surgeries,Bronchoscopic Surgical Procedure,Bronchoscopies,Surgeries, Bronchoscopic,Surgical Procedure, Bronchoscopic
D006801 Humans Members of the species Homo sapiens. Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D001706 Biopsy Removal and pathologic examination of specimens from the living body. Biopsies
D055590 Electromagnetic Phenomena Characteristics of ELECTRICITY and magnetism such as charged particles and the properties and behavior of charged particles, and other phenomena related to or associated with electromagnetism. Electrical Concepts,Electromagnetic Concepts,Electrical Phenomena,Electrical Phenomenon,Electromagnetic Phenomenon,Electromagnetics,Concept, Electrical,Concept, Electromagnetic,Concepts, Electrical,Concepts, Electromagnetic,Electrical Concept,Electromagnetic Concept,Electromagnetic Phenomenas,Phenomena, Electrical,Phenomena, Electromagnetic,Phenomenon, Electrical,Phenomenon, Electromagnetic
D055613 Multiple Pulmonary Nodules A number of small lung lesions characterized by small round masses of 2- to 3-mm in diameter. They are usually detected by chest CT scans (COMPUTED TOMOGRAPHY, X-RAY). Such nodules can be associated with metastases of malignancies inside or outside the lung, benign granulomas, or other lesions. Multiple Pulmonary Nodule,Pulmonary Nodule, Multiple,Pulmonary Nodules, Multiple

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