Project description:EBUS-guided transbronchial mediastinal cryobiopsy (TBMC) has emerged as a promising biopsy tool for diagnosing hilar and mediastinal pathologies. However, several fundamental technical aspects of TBMC remain unexplored. This study aims to determine the optimal number of cryo-passes and freezing time of the ultrathin cryoprobe in EBUS-TBMC concerning specimen size and procedural diagnostic yield. We conducted a retrospective chart review of patients with mediastinal and hilar lesions who underwent EBUS-TBMC between January 2021 and April 2023 across three hospitals in Malaysia. A total of 129 EBUS-TBMC procedures were successfully completed, achieving an overall diagnostic yield of 88.4%. Conclusive TBMC procedures were associated with larger specimen sizes (7.0 vs. 5.0 mm, p < 0.01). Specimen size demonstrated a positive correlation with diagnostic yield (p < 0.01), plateauing at specimen size of 4.1-6.0 mm. A significant positive correlation was also observed between the number of cryo-passes and both specimen size (p < 0.01) and diagnostic yield (p < 0.05). Diagnostic yield plateaued after 2-3 cryo-passes. In contrast, longer freezing times trended towards smaller specimens and lower diagnostic yield, though not reaching statistical significance. The highest diagnostic yield was recorded at the 3.1-4.0 s freezing time. The safety profile of TBMC remains favourable, with one case (0.8%) of pneumothorax and nine cases (7%) of self-limiting bleeding. In our cohort, TBMC performance with 2-3 cryo-passes and a 3.1-4.0 s freezing time to achieve a total aggregate specimen size of 4.1-6.0 mm appeared optimal. Further prospective studies are needed to validate these findings.
Project description:Endobronchial ultrasound-guided transbronchial needle aspiration (EBUS-TBNA) is an established minimally invasive method for the diagnosis of benign and malignant conditions. Continuous efforts are underway to improve the material adequacy of EBUS-TBNA, including the introduction of a new technique called EBUS-guided transbronchial nodal cryobiopsy (EBUS-TBNC). This method allows for the retrieval of larger and well-preserved histologic samples from the mediastinum. We present a case series of four patients who underwent combined EBUS-TBNA and EBUS-TBNC procedures in our centre. All procedures were performed under general anaesthesia using a convex probe EBUS scope (Pentax EB-1970UK). Two patients were diagnosed with malignancy and two with benign disorders (silicosis and tuberculosis). In the malignant cases, both EBUS-TBNA/cell block and cryobiopsy provided a diagnosis but cryobiopsy yielded more material for ancillary tests in one patient. However, in the benign cases, there was discordance between EBUS-TBNA/cell block and cryobiopsy. Only cryobiopsy detected granuloma in the patient with TB (tuberculosis), and in the patient with silicosis, TBNC provided a better overall histological evaluation, leading to a definitive diagnosis. No complications were observed. This case series supports the potential diagnostic value of combining EBUS-TBNA and EBUS-TBNC, particularly in benign mediastinal lesions (granulomatous diseases), and in cases requiring additional molecular tests in cancer diagnosis.
Project description:BackgroundTransbronchial lung cryobiopsy (TBLC) is a novel technology in which a cryoprobe is used to obtain large tissue samples from the lungs of patients with interstitial lung diseases (ILDs) and peripheral pulmonary lesions (PPLs). We aimed to determine the efficacy and safety of TBLC in the diagnosis of peripheral lung diseases in the Endoscopy Center of Shanghai Pulmonary Hospital. Further, the application value of radial endobronchial ultrasound (R-EBUS) used to determine the optimal area for cryobiopsy was evaluated in this study.MethodsIn this retrospective study, the data of patients with unclarified ILDs or PPLs who underwent TBLC guided by R-EBUS between April 2020 and December 2021 at Shanghai Pulmonary Hospital in China were analyzed.ResultsA total of 137 patients [72 men, 65 women; median age, 52 years (range, 24-76 years)] were enrolled in the study. Out of the 137 patients included in the study, 123 (89.8%) were diagnosed after multidisciplinary discussions (MDDs), including 105 (85.4%) with ILD, 10 (8.1%) with tuberculosis, and 8 (6.5%) with a malignant tumor. Sixty-five (47.4%) patients had a definitive pathologic diagnosis through TBLC, including 54 (83.1%) with ILD, 5 (7.7%) with tuberculosis and 6 (9.2%) with malignant tumors. The overall pathological diagnosis rate was 47.4%. In addition to clarifying the blood supply situation of the candidate target, R-EBUS detected lesions in 44 (32.1%) patients. Mild and moderate bleeding occurred in 75.2% and 24.8% of patients, respectively. No cases of severe bleeding were observed. Pneumothorax occurred in 6 (4.4%) patients, of which 2 recovered without additional treatment, and 4 (66.7%) needed closed thoracic drainage. Hydropneumothorax and mediastinal emphysema occurred in one patient each. No patients died due to TBLC.ConclusionsR-EBUS-guided TBLC is safe and effective for the diagnosis of lung diseases, including ILDs and other PPLs. R-EBUS can guide cryobiopsy and avoid the potential risk of severe bleeding as well as radiation exposure. The pathological diagnosis rate of ILDs is relatively low, and MDD plays an important role in the diagnosis of ILDs.
Project description:Cryobiopsy is advantageous for collecting larger specimens with minimum crushing compared to forceps biopsy and transbronchial needle aspiration (TBNA), but it has not been widely used for mediastinal tumors. In this report, a leiomyoma of the thoracic esophagus was diagnosed with endobronchial ultrasound-guided transbronchial mediastinal cryobiopsy (EBUS-cryo). An asymptomatic 49-year-old woman had a 2.6-cm sized submucosal tumor (SMT) of the esophagus adjacent to the trachea and left main bronchus. EBUS-TBNA and EBUS-guided intranodal forceps biopsy were performed, followed by EBUS-cryo. The biopsy forceps could not be inserted into the tumor, but the cryoprobe was smoothly inserted. EBUS-TBNA could not obtain enough spindle-shaped tumor cells for immunohistochemical staining, but EBUS-cryo provided sufficient specimens for diagnosing the leiomyoma. Adding EBUS-cryo to EBUS-TBNA has recently been reported to achieve high diagnostic yields for lymphomas, uncommon tumors, and benign diseases. EBUS-cryo seems a valid diagnostic option for esophageal SMTs that are difficult to diagnose with needles and forceps.
Project description:IntroductionThe emergence of endobronchial ultrasound (EBUS) changed the approach to staging lung cancer. As a new method being incorporated, the use of EBUS may lead to a shift in clinical and costs outcomes.ObjectiveThe aim of this systematic review is to gather information to better understand the economic impact of implementing EBUS.MethodsThis review is reported according to the PRISMA statement and registered on PROSPERO (CRD42019107901). Search keywords were elaborated considering descriptors of terms related to the disease (lung cancer / mediastinal staging of lung cancer) and the technologies of interest (EBUS and mediastinoscopy) combined with a specific economic filter. The literature search was performed in MEDLINE, EMBASE, LILACS, Cochrane Library of Trials, Web of Science, Scopus and National Health System Economic Evaluation Database (NHS EED) of the Center for Reviews and Dissemination (CRD). Screening, selection of articles, data extraction and quality assessment were carried out by two reviewers.ResultsSeven hundred and seventy publications were identified through the database searches. Eight articles were included in this review. All publications are full economic evaluation studies, one cost-effectiveness, three cost-utility, and four cost-minimization analyses. The costs of strategies using EBUS-TBNA were lower than the ones using mediastinoscopy in all studies analyzed. Two of the best quality scored studies demonstrate that the mediastinoscopy strategy is dominated by the EBUS-TBNA strategy.ConclusionInformation gathered in the eight studies of this systematic review suggest that EBUS is cost-effective compared to mediastinoscopy for mediastinal staging of lung cancer.
Project description:RationalePatients with isolated mediastinal lymphadenopathy (IML) are a common presentation to physicians, and mediastinoscopy is traditionally considered the "gold standard" investigation when a pathological diagnosis is required. Endobronchial ultrasound-guided transbronchial needle aspiration (EBUS-TBNA) is established as an alternative to mediastinoscopy in patients with lung cancer.ObjectiveTo determine the efficacy and health care costs of EBUS-TBNA as an alternative initial investigation to mediastinoscopy in patients with isolated IML.MethodsProspective multicenter single-arm clinical trial of 77 consecutive patients with IML from 5 centers between April 2009 and March 2011. All patients underwent EBUS-TBNA. If EBUS-TBNA did not provide a diagnosis, then participants underwent mediastinoscopy.Measurements and main resultsEBUS-TBNA prevented 87% of mediastinoscopies (95% confidence interval [CI], 77-94%; P < 0.001) but failed to provide a diagnosis in 10 patients (13%), all of whom underwent mediastinoscopy. The sensitivity and negative predictive value of EBUS-TBNA in patients with IML were 92% (95% CI, 83-95%) and 40% (95% CI, 12-74%), respectively. One patient developed a lower respiratory tract infection after EBUS-TBNA, requiring inpatient admission. The cost of the EBUS-TBNA procedure per patient was £1,382 ($2,190). The mean cost of the EBUS-TBNA strategy was £1,892 ($2,998) per patient, whereas a strategy of mediastinoscopy alone was significantly more costly at £3,228 ($5,115) per patient (P < 0.001). The EBUS-TBNA strategy is less costly than mediastinoscopy if the cost per EBUS-TBNA procedure is less than £2,718 ($4,307) per patient.ConclusionsEBUS-TBNA is a safe, highly sensitive, and cost-saving initial investigation in patients with IML. Clinical trial registered with ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT00932854).
Project description:ObjectivesEndobronchial ultrasound-guided transbronchial needle aspiration (EBUS-TBNA) is becoming the preferred method of mediastinal staging for lung cancer. We investigated the learning curve for EBUS-TBNA using risk-adjusted cumulative sum (Cusum).MethodsA retrospective study of EBUS-TBNA was performed at a single academic institution for patients with mediastinal or hilar lymphadenopathy in the setting of proven or suspected lung cancer. A sampling pass was defined as a full retraction and repositioning of the aspiration needle. Rapid on-site evaluation was not available. To track proficiency, risk-adjusted Cusum analysis was performed using acceptable and unacceptable failure rates of 10% and 20%, respectively. Failure was defined as false negative or nondiagnostic results.ResultsDuring the study period, 231 patients underwent EBUS-TBNA. Prevalence of mediastinal or hilar malignancy was 66.7% (154 out of 231). Sensitivity was 92.2% (142 out of 154), and negative predictive value was 87.9% (58 out of 66). Node size was identified as a significant predictor of EBUS-TBNA success by multiple regression. Risk-adjusted Cusum analysis demonstrated that the first and only unacceptable decision interval was crossed at 22 cases. Individual practitioner learning curves were highly variable, and the operator with the highest volume was the most consistently proficient.ConclusionsIn our experience, attainment of an acceptable failure rate for EBUS-TBNA required 22 cases. Node size is a predictor of EBUS-TBNA success. Risk-adjusted Cusum proved a powerful evaluative tool to monitor the training process of this new procedure.