The value of ultrasound-guided biopsy of fluorodeoxy-glucose positron emission tomography (FDG-PET)-positive supraclavicular lymph nodes in patients with suspected lung cancer

Thoracic ultrasound in guiding management of respiratory disease

INTRODUCTION

The use of ultrasound in respiratory disease has evolved substantially over the past two decades. From a test done to confirm the safe site of pleural fluid drainage, thoracic ultrasound has become a point-of-care test that guides the management of patients on respiratory wards, in clinics and endoscopy.

AREAS COVERED

This review overviews the process of ultrasound examination in the chest. It then delves into specific disease areas (pleural disease, lung disease, diaphragm disease, and invasive procedures) to highlight how thoracic ultrasound is being used to refine management. The review concludes with discussion on the training curricula and assessment tools for competency in thoracic ultrasound. Being a scoping review, literature searches were conducted on PubMed using relevant search terms.

EXPERT OPINION

In addition to its current uses, there are many avenues where thoracic ultrasound will soon be beneficial. Recent studies show promising roles in areas such as patient-tailored guidance of pleurodesis and non-invasively predicting lung re-expansion after pleural fluid drainage. In addition, auxiliary tools such as contrast-enhanced ultrasound and elastography are proving useful in identifying the etiology and directing the successful sampling of pleural and lung lesions. Studies are also exploring the utility of sonographic biomarkers such as echogenicity and septations to predict outcomes in pleural disease.

Advancements in Interventional Pulmonology: Harnessing Ultrasound Techniques for Precision Diagnosis and Treatment

Medical ultrasound has emerged as an indispensable tool within interventional pulmonology, revolutionizing diagnostic and procedural practices through its non-invasive nature and real-time visualization capabilities. By harnessing the principles of sound waves and employing a variety of transducer types, ultrasound facilitates enhanced accuracy and safety in procedures such as transthoracic needle aspiration and pleural effusion drainage, consequently leading to improved patient outcomes. Understanding the fundamentals of ultrasound physics is paramount for clinicians, as it forms the basis for interpreting imaging results and optimizing interventions. Thoracic ultrasound plays a pivotal role in diagnosing conditions like pleural effusions and pneumothorax, while also optimizing procedures such as thoracentesis and biopsy by providing precise guidance. Advanced ultrasound techniques, including endobronchial ultrasound, has transformed the evaluation and biopsy of lymph nodes, bolstered by innovative features like elastography, which contribute to increased procedural efficacy and patient safety. Peripheral ultrasound techniques, notably radial endobronchial ultrasound (rEBUS), have become essential for assessing pulmonary nodules and evaluating airway structures, offering clinicians valuable insights into disease localization and severity. Neck ultrasound serves as a crucial tool in guiding supraclavicular lymph node biopsy and percutaneous dilatational tracheostomy procedures, ensuring safe placement and minimizing associated complications. Ultrasound technology is suited for further advancement through the integration of artificial intelligence, miniaturization, and the development of portable devices. These advancements hold the promise of not only improving diagnostic accuracy but also enhancing the accessibility of ultrasound imaging in diverse healthcare settings, ultimately expanding its utility and impact on patient care. Additionally, the integration of enhanced techniques such as contrast-enhanced ultrasound and 3D imaging is anticipated to revolutionize personalized medicine by providing clinicians with a more comprehensive understanding of anatomical structures and pathological processes. The transformative potential of medical ultrasound in interventional pulmonology extends beyond mere technological advancements; it represents a paradigm shift in healthcare delivery, empowering clinicians with unprecedented capabilities to diagnose and treat pulmonary conditions with precision and efficacy. By leveraging the latest innovations in ultrasound technology, clinicians can navigate complex anatomical structures with confidence, leading to more informed decision-making and ultimately improving patient outcomes. Moreover, the portability and versatility of modern ultrasound devices enable their deployment in various clinical settings, from traditional hospital environments to remote or resource-limited areas, thereby bridging gaps in healthcare access and equity.

Performance of Ultrasound-Guided Core Biopsy Driven by FDG-avid Supraclavicular Lymph Nodes in Patients With Suspected Lung Cancer

Objectives

Ultrasound-guided core biopsy (UGCB) for supraclavicular lymph nodes (SLNs) represents an attractive procedure to obtain tissues for lung cancer confirmation. The aim of the present study is to evaluate the performance of UGCB driven by FDG-avid SLNs, as performed by nuclear medicine physicians, in patients with suspected lung cancer.

Methods

Institutional database in our hospital was searched for eligible patients between September 2019 and March 2021. A 3-12 MHz linear probe was used to guide the biopsy process and to ensure that the needle tip was being directed at the metabolically active area that had been indicated by side-by-side PET/CT images. Diagnostic yield, malignancy rate, molecular testing results, and complications were reviewed.

Results

Among the 54 patients included in this study, definite pathological diagnosis from UGCB specimens was achieved in 53 patients, reaching a diagnostic yield of 98.1% (53/54) and a malignancy rate of 96.2% (51/53). Among the 50 patients confirmed as lung cancer, thirty-eight were spared from further invasive procedures which had been planned. Molecular analyses were adequately performed on all the 38 specimens obtained from non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLS). The positive rate was 36.8% (14/38) for epidermal growth receptor (EGFR) mutation and 31.6% (12/38) for anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK) translocation. 28.9% (11/38) of the patients had a tumor proportion score (TPS) ≥ 50% for PD-L1 expression. No complication was observed and the average biopsy time was 15 min.

Conclusions

Nuclear medicine physicians-performed UGCB driven by FDG-avid SLNs in suspected lung cancer patients could produce a high performance in terms of diagnostic yield, malignancy rate, and molecular analysis, which may obliviate more invasive interventional procedures and lead to fast decisions on subsequent management.

Patterns of diagnostic procedures for lung cancer pathology in the Middle East and North Africa

Background

Accurate pathological diagnosis is the first critical step in the management of lung cancer. This step is important to determine the histological subtype of the cancer and to identify any actionable targets. Our study aimed at evaluating the patterns of procedures used to obtain pathological diagnosis of lung cancer in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) Region.

Methods

Data of consecutive patients with the diagnosis of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) were collected from participating centers from different countries in the MENA Region. Methods of obtaining tissue diagnosis and workup were analyzed to determine the practice patterns of obtaining tissue diagnosis of lung cancer.

Results

A total of 566 patients were recruited from 10 centers in 5 countries including Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates (UAE), Qatar, Lebanon and Algeria. Majority of patients were males (78.1%) with a median age of 61 years (range, 22-89 years). Obtaining tissue diagnosis was successful in the first attempt in 72.3% of patients, while 16.4% and 6.3% of patients required 2^nd and 3^rd attempt, respectively. The success in first attempt was as follows: image guided biopsy (91%), surgical biopsy (88%), endobronchial biopsy (79%) and cytology (30%). The success in the second attempt was as follows; surgical biopsy (100%), image guided biopsy (95%), endobronchial biopsy (65%), cytology (25%).

Conclusions

More than quarter of the patients required repeated biopsy in the MENA Region. Image guided biopsy has the highest initial yield. Implementing clear process and multidisciplinary guidelines about the selection of diagnostic procedures is needed.