Central Lung Cancer Location Along with Bronchoscopic Correlation- A Retrospective Cross-Sectional Study

Abstract

Background: Lung cancer is currently the leading cause of death from neoplastic diseases worldwide. During the preceding decades, it was the most commonly occurring malignant disease, both in terms of impact and mortality. Fiberoptic bronchoscopy is the most important diagnostic tool for lung cancer. Early tissue diagnosis and proper staging remains the key to the management of the lung cancer patient. Endobronchial forceps biopsy has high diagnostic yield from the visible lesions. The aim of the study was to evaluate diagnostic yield of endobronchial biopsy. Methods: A Cross Sectional Retrospective study of all patients with provisional diagnosis of lung cancer based on computed tomography (CT) scan of chest undergoing fiberoptic bronchoscopy was done at Department of Respiratory Medicine, Ibn Sina Diagnostic & Consultation Center, Chattogram, Bangladesh from July 2022 to June 2023. All fiberoptic bronchoscopy was done in endoscopy suite under local anesthesia. Patients were explained about the procedure thoroughly. Endobronchial biopsy was the main procedure performed. Results: A total of 120 patients underwent bronchoscopy for suspected lung cancer. The mean age of the patients was 58 years with range of 18 to 75 years. Among them 93 (77.5%) were male and 27 (22.5%) were female. Majority of the patients, 108 (90%) were smoker with a mean pack year of 42. The lesion was present more in right side (N=65) than the left side (N=55). Majority of the lesion was present in lobar bronchus followed by main bronchus. Bronchoscopy was normal in 10 patients (8.3%). 12 patients had lesion in multiple locations. The diagnostic yield of endobronchial biopsy was 75%. The diagnostic yield for central tumor was 81.6% which was statistically significant (p<0.001) compared to peripheral tumor and extrinsic compression. Conclusion: Endobronchial biopsy provides good diagnostic yield especially in central tumors. Fiberoptic bronchoscopy is a safe procedure.