Comparative Study of Virtual Versus Conventional Bronchoscopies as Assistive Diagnostic Tools for the Thoracic Surgeons

Abstract

Objective: We aim of this work to evaluate the diagnostic accuracy of virtual bronchoscope(VB) compared to conventional bronchoscopies (CB) (fiberoptic (FOB) or rigid (RB)) and the viability of their use by thoracic surgeons. Background: Virtual Bronchoscopy is a recent method that permits visualization and evaluationdown to the fourth order branches. In comparison with CB, VB can analyze extra luminal compressions and also evaluate areas beyond even high-grade stenosis, even more mapping the route for scoping by FOB or RB which may be troublesome or distressing to the patient. Methods: This randomized study included five hundred patients with different lesions of thethorax. All of them were admitted to Benha university hospitals from October 2012 to October 2019. All cases were examined with either FOB or RB then reviewed by radiologists and thoracic surgeons. These results were compared with each other’s. Results: FOB and RB time has been decreased by VB which guide the thoracic surgeon evenmore facilitate transbronchial needle sampling for the extraluminal pathology. Conclusion: VB is currently used in clinical practice and seems valuable to review its potentialclinical diagnostic indications. Both VB and CB might be considered as complementary modalities for confirmation of this diagnosis. Keywords: CT=computed tomography, FOB=fiber-optic bronchoscopy, CB=conventionalbronchoscopy, RB=rigid bronchoscopy, VB=virtual bronchoscopy.