Role of confocal laser endomicroscopy compared to high definition i- scan video bronchoscopy in patients with suspected lung cancer

Abstract

Abstract Background Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer-related mortality worldwide. Overall 5-year survival is poor at 15% with little improvement over the last twenty years (1.59 million deaths). Besides effective prevention strategies against the commonest risk factor; tobacco smoking, lung cancer mortality can be reduced if cases are detected and treated early. It is important to detect bronchial carcinoma in situ (CIS) since over 40% of these can develop into invasive cancer. Screening tests using sputum cytology and chest radiograph have been used with limited success Objective to study the diagnostic performance of confocal laser endomicroscopy in comparison to high definition i-scan videobronchoscopy in patients with suspected lung cancer. Patients and Methods The study was performed at Pulmonary diseases hospital in Kobry Elkobba military complex for 2 years since January 2018 to December 2019. The study included 25 patients all had chest CT findings suspicious of lung cancer. Results i-scan findings showed 68% accuracy and 73.3% specificity, and findings of confocal laser endomicroscopy were 92% accuracy and 90% specificity. Conclusion This was the preliminary study establishing patient characteristics in Egypt in the form of a comparison between tow methods of diagnosis of lung cancer. The study showed the higher sensitivity of confocal laser endomicroscopy in the diagnosis of lung cancer approved by the results of the pathological specimens optioned under the visual of confocal laser endomicroscopy in comparison to I-scan method.