Abstract
<b>Introduction:</b> With the increasing use of low dose CT scans, numerous pulmonary nodules are detected. As a majority of them is benign, development of efficient non-surgical diagnostic intervention is mandatory. Electromagnetic navigation bronchoscopy (ENB) has been developed to reach difficult to access lesions. The aim of the present study was to compare the diagnostic yield of ENB procedures performed in a classical endoscopy suite or in a hybrid room equipped by a cone beam CT (CBCT). <b>Method:</b> A monocentric randomized study was performed in the Erasme Hospital between January 2020 and December 2021. Lung nodules of maximum 30mm of diameter were eligible. In both arms (endoscopy or CBCT suites), ENB, fluoroscopic guidance and a radial endobronchial ultrasound were used to reach the lesion. Then six trans-bronchial biopsies (TBB) and one trans-bronchial lung cryobiopsy (TBLC) were performed. <b>Results:</b> 49 patients were randomized (24 in the endoscopy and 25 in the CBCT arms). The lesion size was 15,9 ± 4,6 mm and 16,6 ± 6,0 mm respectively (mean ± SD, p=NS). The diagnostic yield was higher when ENB was performed under CBCT guidance than under standard fluoroscopic guidance (80% vs 42%, p<0,05). Duration of the procedure was also higher in the CBCT arm (80 ± 23 vs 61 ± 13 minutes, mean ± SD, p<0,01). Performing TBLC in addition to TBB increased the diagnostic yield of 16% (17% and 12,5% in CBCT and endoscopy suites respectively, p=NS). <b>Conclusion:</b> This study highlighted the additional value to perform ENB procedure under CBCT guidance for difficult to access pulmonary nodules of a mean size of less than 2 cm of diameter.
Published Version
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call