Transbronchial biopsy using endobronchial ultrasonography with a guide sheath increased the diagnostic yield of peripheral pulmonary lesions

Endobronchial Ultrasonography With Guide Sheath for the Diagnosis of Peripheral Pulmonary Lesions in Japan: A Literature Review

We evaluated the usefulness of endobronchial ultrasonography with guide sheath (EBUS-GS) for the diagnosis of peripheral pulmonary lesions (PPLs) in Japan. We searched the PubMed/Medline database using the keywords "EBUS guide sheath" for Japanese studies on EBUS-GS published between January 2004 and August 2023. We included 32 original articles that evaluated the diagnostic yield of EBUS-GS for PPLs. Case reports and conference abstracts were excluded due to limited information available for quality assessment. The diagnostic yield of EBUS-GS was 73.6% for 2996 malignant lesions, 65.4% for 752 ground-glass nodules, 59.4% for 414 benign lesions, 61.3% for 1114 lesions of size ≤2 cm, and 75.6% for 1246 lesions of size >2 cm; it was 69.4% for lesions located in the upper lobe (n=793), 71.9% for the middle lobe/lingula (n=121), and 62.5% for the lower lobe (n=334). None of the patients experienced severe complications. In this review, EBUS-GS is effective for the diagnosis of malignant and benign PPLs. A multimodality approach is needed to further enhance its diagnostic performance.

Guided Bronchoscopy for the Evaluation of Pulmonary Lesions: An Updated Meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

Guided bronchoscopy is increasingly used to diagnose peripheral pulmonary lesions (PPLs). A meta-analysis published in 2012 demonstrated a pooled diagnostic yield of 70%; however, recent publications have documented yields as low as 40% and as high as 90%.

RESEARCH QUESTION

Has the diagnostic yield of guided bronchoscopy in patients with PPLs improved over the past decade?

STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS

A comprehensive search was performed of studies evaluating the diagnostic yield of differing bronchoscopic technologies used to reach PPLs. Study quality was assessed using the Quality assessment of diagnostic accuracy of studies (QUADAS-2) assessment tool. Number of lesions, type of technology used, overall diagnostic yield, and yield by size were extracted. Adverse events were recorded. Meta-analytic techniques were used to summarize findings across all studies.

RESULTS

A total of 16,389 lesions from 126 studies were included. There was no significant difference in diagnostic yield prior to 2012 (39 studies; 3,052 lesions; yield 70.5%) vs after 2012 (87 studies; 13,535 lesions; yield 69.2%) (P > .05). Additionally, there was no significant difference in yield when comparing different technologies. Studies with low risk of overall bias had a lower diagnostic yield than those with high risk of bias (66% vs 71%, respectively; P = .018). Lesion size > 2 cm, presence of bronchus sign, and reports with a high prevalence of malignancy in the study population were associated with significantly higher diagnostic yield. Significant (P < .0001) between-study heterogeneity was also noted.

INTERPRETATION

Despite the reported advances in bronchoscopic technology to diagnose PPLs, the diagnostic yield of guided bronchoscopy has not improved.

Diagnosis of Peripheral Pulmonary Lesions with Transbronchial Lung Cryobiopsy by Guide Sheath and Radial Endobronchial Ultrasonography: A Prospective Control Study

Objective

We design a prospective control study on the utilization of transbronchial cryobiopsy guided by EBUS-GS (EBUS-GS-TBCB) to diagnose PPLs.

Methods

PPLs were defined as pulmonary nodules or masses with a diameter from 10 mm to 50 mm. PPLs were randomly divided into group EBUS-GS-TBCB and transbronchial biopsy by forceps guided under EBUS-GS (EBUS-GS-TBB).

Results

28 cases were involved in group EBUS-GS-TBCB and 31 cases were in group EBUS-GS-TBB. The mean sizes of PPLs were 30.23 ± 11.10 mm in group EBUS-GS-TBCB and 28.69 ± 8.62 mm in group EBUS-GS-TBB (t = 0.600, p=0.551). The diagnostic yields of EBUS-GS-TBCB and EBUS-GS-TBB were 75% and 64.52% respectively, and the difference between the two groups was not significant (χ ² value = 0.137, p=0.711). If only the first specimen was taken into account, the diagnostic yields from EBUS-GS-TBCB and EBUS-GS-TBB were 64.29% (18/28 cases) and 35.48% (11/31 cases), respectively. The difference was statistically significant by Fisher's Exact Test (χ ² value = 4.883, p=0.038). The total incidence rates of bleeding were 21.43% and 6.45%, respectively, in groups EBUS-GS-TBCB and EBUS-GS-TBB. The total incidence rates of pneumothorax were 7.14% and 0, respectively, in groups EBUS-GS-TBCB and EBUS-GS-TBB.

Conclusion

The diagnostic yield of EBUS-GS-TBCB was slightly higher than that of EBUS-GS-TBB for the diagnosis of PPLs. EBUS-GS-TBCB might be useful if only the first sample was taken into account.

Endobronchial ultrasound guided transbronchial cryobiopsy versus forceps biopsy in peripheral lung lesions

INTRODUCTION

Radial probe endobronchial ultrasound (RP-EBUS) is a modern technique for diagnosis of peripheral lung lesions. It is assumed that the addition of transbronchial cryobiopsy (TBCB) could increase the diagnostic value for RP-EBUS.

OBJECTIVES

The main objectives were to evaluate the efficacy and safety of RP-EBUS-guided TBCB for diagnosis of peripheral lung lesions and comparing it with RP-EBUS-guided transbronchial forceps biopsy.

METHODS

Sixty patients with peripheral lung diseases were divided into two groups. Group I included 45 patients who were eligible for TBCB and they subjected to forceps transbronchial biopsy (forceps TBB) and TBCB guided by RP-EBUS. Fifteen patients who were not eligible for TBCB were included in group II and they were subjected to forceps TBB and/or cytology retrieval procedures guided by RP-EBUS.

RESULTS

In group I, forceps TBB had sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value (PPV), negative predictive value (NPV), and accuracy of; 67.5%, 100%, 100%, 18.8%, and 69.8%, respectively, while TBCB had sensitivity, specificity, PPV, NPV, and accuracy of 75%, 100%, 100%, 23.1%, and 76.7%, respectively. The sensitivity in group II was 80% and the overall results including both groups were sensitivity, specificity, PPV, NPV, and accuracy of 85.2%, 100%, 100%, 42.8%, and 86.7%, respectively. Regarding the complications, only one patient (1.7%) had significant bleeding. One patient (1.7%) had pneumothorax and another patient (1.7%) suffered from hypoxemia.

CONCLUSIONS

RP-EBUS-guided TBCB is a safe and effective technique for diagnosis of peripheral lung lesions. TBCB has achieved higher diagnostic values and better quality of samples.

Diagnosis of peripheral pulmonary lesions using endobronchial ultrasonography with a guide sheath and computed tomography guided transthoracic needle aspiration

INTRODUCTION

Peripheral pulmonary lesions (PPL) are difficult to diagnose. We analysed the diagnostic values and risks of endobronchial ultrasonography with a guide sheath (EBUS-GS) and computed tomography-guided transthoracic needle aspiration (CT-TTNA) in diagnosing PPL.

METHODS

We collected 250 cases received EBUS-GS examination, and 279 cases received CT-TTNA examination. We analysed the diagnosis results and the complications of each operation and determined the relevant indications.

RESULTS

Biopsy was successful in 239 cases (95.6%) using EBUS-GS and in 279 cases (100%) using CT-TTNA. Lesions were smaller than or equal to 30 mm for biopsy using EBUS-GS in 60.7% of the cases. The distances of lesions from the chest wall were greater than 80 mm for EBUS-GS examination in 89.1% of the cases. The diagnostic rate of EBUS-GS was 78.2%, including 41.8% (100 cases) malignant diseases. EBUS-GS is a highly safe method. The distances of lesions from the chest wall were no greater than 80 mm for CT-TTNA examination in 90.0% of the cases. The diagnosis rate using CT-TTNA was 94.6%, including 90.0% (251 cases) malignant diseases. For CT-TTNA, there is a high chance of complications such as pneumothorax and intrapulmonary hemorrhage.

CONCLUSION

EBUS-GS and CT-TTNA each have their own limitations. EBUS-GS has a slightly lower diagnostic rate but higher safety, while CT-TTNA has a higher diagnostic rate but requires attention to complications. For lesions 80 mm more from the chest wall, we recommend EBUS-GS. For lesions 80 mm from or closer to the chest wall, we recommend CT-TTNA.

Probe-based optical fiberscopy for the direct observation of peripheral pulmonary lesions

BACKGROUND

Peripheral pulmonary lesions are rarely observed directly before transbronchial biopsy. This study aimed to characterize the differences between malignant and benign peripheral pulmonary lesions according to the findings of direct observation using probe-based optical fiberscopy.

METHODS

Thirty patients who underwent probe-based optical fiberscopy in combination with bronchoscopy using endobronchial ultrasonography with a guide sheath for the evaluation of peripheral pulmonary lesions were prospectively included in this study. The patients were divided into the malignant and benign groups according to their final diagnosis. The findings of probe-based optical fiberscopy in the two groups were compared.

RESULTS

The numbers of patients who were diagnosed using histological or bacteriological analyses via bronchoscopic sampling in the malignant and benign groups were 20/23 (87.0%) and 2/7 (28.6%), respectively. On probe-based optical fiberscopy, angiogenesis and vascular engorgement were observed only in the malignant group. The disappearance of subepithelial microvessel transparency and presence of bronchiolar stenosis were observed more frequently in the malignant group (78.3% and 60.9%) than in the benign group (28.6% and 28.6%), whereas increased mucus secretion was observed more frequently in the benign group (71.4%) than in the malignant group (8.7%).

CONCLUSIONS

These results suggest that the findings of direct observation using probe-based optical fiberscopy are useful for differentiating malignant from benign peripheral pulmonary lesions.

TRIAL REGISTRY

UMIN-CTR; UMIN000018796; URL: https://www.umin.ac.jp/ctr/index.htm.

Comparison between endobronchial ultrasound-guided transbronchial biopsy and CT-guided transthoracic lung biopsy for the diagnosis of peripheral lung cancer: a systematic review and meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

With the release of the National Lung Screening Trial results, the detection of peripheral pulmonary lesions (PPLs) is likely to increase. Computed tomography (CT)-guided percutaneous transthoracic needle biopsy (PTNB) and radial probe endobronchial ultrasound (r-EBUS)-guided transbronchial lung biopsy (TBLB) are recommended for tissue diagnosis of PPLs.

METHODS

A systematic review of published literature evaluating the accuracy of r-EBUS-TBLB and CT-PTNB for the diagnosis of PPLs was performed to determine point sensitivity and specificity, and to construct a summary receiver-operating characteristic curve.

RESULTS

This review included 31 publications dealing with EBUS-TBLB and 14 publications dealing with CT-PTNB for the diagnosis of PPLs. EBUS-TBLB had point sensitivity of 0.69 (95% CI: 0.67-0.71) for the diagnosis of peripheral lung cancer (PLC), which was lower than the sensitivity of CT-PTNB (0.94, 95% CI: 0.94-0.95). However, the complication rates observed with EBUS-TBLB were lower than those reported for CT-PTNB.

CONCLUSIONS

This meta-analysis showed that EBUS-TBLB is a safe and relatively accurate tool in the investigation of PLC. Although the yield remains lower than that of CT-PTNB, the procedural risks are lower.

Endobronchial ultrasound plus fluoroscopy-guided biopsy compared to fluoroscopy-guided transbronchial biopsy for obtaining samples of peripheral pulmonary lesions: A systematic review and meta-analysis

BACKGROUND:

We report a meta-analysis of recent studies comparing the diagnostic yields of endobronchial ultrasonography plus fluoroscopically-guided transbronchial biopsy (EBUS + TBB) with that of conventional fluoroscopically-guided TBB for peripheral pulmonary lesions (PPLs).

METHODS:

We searched Medline, the Cochrane Library, PubMed, and Google Scholar through 31 March 2013 using the keywords: lung neoplasm, pulmonary lesions, diagnosis, endobronchial ultrasound, fluoroscopy, and fluoroscopic.

RESULTS:

Four studies were included in the study with a total of 461 patients, 222 in the EBUS + TBB group and 239 in the TBB only group. The meta-analysis revealed that the group with EBUS + TBB was more favored in terms of positive diagnostic yield than the group diagnosed with only conventional TBB (odds ratio [OR] = 2.211, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.422–3.438, P < 0.001). Subgroup analysis based on lesion size found that smaller PPLs had higher accuracy (OR = 4.502, 95% CI = 2.002–10.126, P < 0.001) than PPLs of large size (OR = 1.849, 95% CI = 1.033–3.311, P = 0.039).

CONCLUSION:

Obtaining TBB samples for histopathological diagnosis is enhanced by the addition of EBUS to conventional fluoroscopic guidance; this is, especially important for patients with small peripheral lung lesions who benefit greatly from early diagnosis.

Endobronchial ultrasonography using a guide sheath technique for diagnosis of peripheral pulmonary lesions

Endobronchial ultrasonography using a guide sheath (EBUS-GS) is a novel method used for collecting peripheral pulmonary lesion (PPL) samples. EBUS-GS is performed by introducing a guide sheath-covered miniprobe into the target bronchus and then withdrawing the miniprobe after lesion detection, leaving the guide sheath in situ as a working channel for obtaining lesion samples. EBUS-GS can improve PPL diagnosis rates and be used for obtaining specimens for molecular analysis. In this review, we discuss the clinical applications of EBUS-GS, the factors that affect its diagnostic sensitivity, and potential complications. We also compare EBUS-GS with other available diagnostic techniques and discuss the strengths and limitations of this method.

Additional transbronchial needle aspiration through a guide sheath for peripheral pulmonary lesions that cannot be detected by radial EBUS

BACKGROUND

Endobronchial ultrasound with a guide sheath (EBUS-GS) has resulted to better diagnostic outcome for peripheral pulmonary lesions (PPLs), although the yield is not satisfactory for lesions that cannot be located by EBUS. We aimed to evaluate whether the addition of a new technique, transbronchial needle aspiration through a guide sheath (GS-TBNA), can increase the yield for these cases.

METHODS

This was a retrospective review of cases that were not located by EBUS during EBUS-GS for PPL diagnosis. From September 2012 to August 2014, 67 PPLs had 'invisible' EBUS-GS location prior to transbronchial sampling. The patients were divided into two groups according to the use of additional GS-TBNA: GS-TBNA group (n=22) and non-GS-TBNA group (n=45). Diagnostic yields were compared and multivariate analysis was performed to determine the factors associated with increased diagnostic yield.

RESULTS

The diagnostic yield was significantly higher in the GS-TBNA group than in the non-GS-TBNA group (54.5% vs 17.8%, P<0.01). The complication rate was not significantly different between the GS-TBNA group and the non-GS-TBNA group (0% vs 4.4%, P=1.0). Multivariate analysis showed that only performing GS-TBNA was significantly associated with increased diagnostic yield (odds ratio 3.99, P=0.03).

CONCLUSION

GS-TBNA is a safe technique for PPL diagnosis and may be useful when the EBUS probe cannot reach the lesion.

Radial endobronchial ultrasound in diagnosing peripheral lung lesions in a high tuberculosis setting

Background

Current data for the utility of radial endobronchial ultrasound (EBUS) in investigating peripheral lung lesions (PLLs) has been restricted to populations with low pulmonary tuberculosis (TB) incidence. The aim of this study was to assess the diagnostic utility of radial EBUS with guide sheath in the diagnosis of peripheral lung lesions in Singapore, a high TB incidence setting.

Methods

A post-hoc database analysis was performed. 123 consecutive patients with computed tomographic evidence of PLLs who underwent radial EBUS guided bronchoscopy were included.

Results

The final diagnosis was malignancy in 76 cases and benign in 44 cases. Radial EBUS guided bronchoscopy had a sensitivity of 65.8 % for malignancy, positive predictive value of 100 %, negative predictive value of 62.9 %, and a diagnostic accuracy of 82.5 %. 22 patients had a final diagnosis of pulmonary TB. The diagnostic sensitivity for pulmonary TB was 77.3 %, with a positive predictive value of 100 %, negative predictive value of 95.2 % and a diagnostic accuracy of 95.8 %. Overall, 58.8 % of pulmonary TB cases relied on histology to make an early diagnosis.

Conclusion

Radial EBUS guided bronchosopy is useful in investigating PLLs in a high TB incidence setting. Our data also suggests that radial EBUS is a more rapid diagnosis technique for tuberculous lesions.

Endobronchial ultrasound with a guide sheath for small malignant pulmonary nodules: a retrospective comparison between central and peripheral locations

OBJECTIVE

Radial endobronchial ultrasound with a guide sheath (EBUS-GS) has improved the diagnostic accuracy of transbronchial biopsy (TBB) for malignant peripheral pulmonary nodules (PPNs). Many underscore the importance of tumor localization but reproducible results on other aspects that affect yield are few. We aimed to analyze the diagnostic performance of TBB with EBUS-GS and to know what group of patients can benefit most.

METHODS

The database of patients with malignant PPNs (≤30 mm) who underwent EBUS-GS TBB at the National Cancer Center Hospital, Tokyo, Japan from April 2012 to March 2013 was retrospectively reviewed and analysed based on lesion and procedural characteristics.

RESULTS

Most PPNs (N=212) were adenocarcinoma, measuring 20 mm [mean, standard deviation (SD) 5.45]. Overall diagnostic accuracy was 67.5% (143 of 212 cases). Factors that significantly affected and predicted diagnostic success were EBUS probe within (P=0.001) and parenchymal location that was not adjacent to the costal visceral pleura (P=0.001). When combined, these variables achieved an 87% (59 of 68 lesions) diagnostic yield. CT scan characteristic, lesion size, lobe location, and GS size were non-contributory.

CONCLUSIONS

EBUS-GS TBB is an acceptable diagnostic method for small peripheral lung cancer. It can be maximized for PPNs that are away from the pleura and when the EBUS probe can be placed within the lesion.

Newer modalities in the work-up of peripheral pulmonary nodules

Technological advances in recent years have translated into the availability of newer modalities to establish the cause of peripheral pulmonary nodules (PPN). Even though the verdict is still out on the ideal diagnostic modality, there is no doubt that the bronchoscope is becoming a popular tool in the armamentarium of physicians who deal with PPN. This article focuses on newer bronchoscopic modalities being studied for the work-up of PPN. The authors also summarize the value of established diagnostic modalities to provide a balanced perspective.