Utility of PET/CT in the diagnosis and staging of lung cancer after ecobronchoscopy in mining population. / Utilidad de la PET/TC en el diagnóstico y estadificación del cáncer de pulmón tras ecobroncoscopia en población minera.

INTRODUCTION: Positron emission tomography (PET) with computerized axial tomography (CT) in a single device is known as PET/CT. It has been widely documented and validated, and it is currently a core part of the diagnosis and staging of lung cancer. However, its reliability has not been analysed in specific populations. The objective of this study is to determine the usefulness of PET/CT in patients exposed to mining activities in which an endobronchial ultrasound (EBUS) has been performed for the diagnosis and/or staging of lung cancer. PATIENTS AND METHODS: With a prospective and real-time database, all the patients who had undergone an EBUS with suspicion of lung cancer and who had previously undergone a PET/CT were selected. The observation unit was the lymph node and, based on their history of exposure to mining activities, the sample was divided into two categories, group 1: not exposed; and group 2: exposed. In each group, and with the results from anatomical pathology as a dependent variable, logistic models were established to look for independent risk factors for malignancy. RESULTS: In group 1, lymph nodes larger than 1 cm and PET/CT uptake with maximum standardized uptake value (SUVmax) over 2.5 were independent risk factors for malignancy. However, in group 2 (exposed patients), none of those factors were predictors for malignancy. DISCUSSION: In the population of individuals with occupational exposure to mining, PET/CT is an imaging technique with diagnostic limitations for lung cancer.

Estudio sobre la prevalencia de expresión del pd-l1 en las Células Neoplásicas en nuestros pacientes sometidos a EBUS-TBNA / Study on the prevalence of pd-l1 expression in neoplastic cells in our patients undergoing EBUS-TBNA

El Cáncer de pulmón es la primera causa mundial de muertepor Cáncer. La inmunoterapia con anticuerpos monoclonales antiPD-L1 ha supuesto un avance en su tratamiento. En nuestro estudiose ha revisado la prevalencia de este receptor en las muestrasobtenidas mediante aspiración con aguja transbronquial guiada porecobroncoscopia (EBUS-TBNA). (AU)

Lung cancer is the world's leading cause of death from cancer.Immunotherapy with anti-PD-L1 monoclonal antibodies hasrepresented an advance in its treatment. In our study, we reviewedthe prevalence of this receptor in samples obtained by ultrasoundguided transbronchial needle aspiration (EBUS-TBNA). (AU)

Tolerance and Safety of 5 Models of Sedation During Endobronchial Ultrasound.

INTRODUCTION: Sedation during endobronchial ultrasound (EBUS) is essential due to the long duration of this procedure. We evaluated different models of sedation and their complications. METHOD: A multicenter, prospective, observational study of 307 patients undergoing EBUS was conducted. Patients were sedated with: a) midazolam bolus; b) propofol infusion; c) midazolam bolus and propofol infusion; d) propofol infusion and remifentanil infusión, or e) midazolam bolus and fentanyl bolus, and clinical variables were collected. Patients were asked to complete a satisfaction survey following the test. RESULTS: Patients per sedation model were: A 24, B 37, C 107, D 62 and E 77. Scores for perceived sensations of recall, pain, cough, dyspnea and prolonged examination (0.65±1.11; 0 3±0.73, 0.46±0.9, 0.29±0.73, and 0.59±0.96, respectively) were lower compared to fear and nervousness before the examination (1.26±1.37 and 1.5±1.41, respectively). High levels of indifference to repeating the procedure (1.49±1.3) and a reported pleasant feeling during the test (1.23±1.17), with low levels of anxiety (0.49±0.85) and discomfort (0.62±1.1), show that different models of sedation were well tolerated. Almost half the patients (46.6%) did not report any "worst moment" during the procedure, and 89.6% were willing to undergo a repeat test. The E and C models presented fewest complications (12.9 and 31.7%, respectively), and all were resolved with simple therapeutic measures. CONCLUSIONS: The models of sedation evaluated were well tolerated and most patients were willing to undergo repeat EBUS. Complications were few and easily resolved.

Ten Years of Linear Endobronchial Ultrasound: Evidence of Efficacy, Safety and Cost-effectiveness.

Real-time endobronchial ultrasound-guided transbronchial needle aspiration (EBUS-TBNA) is one of the major landmarks in the history of bronchoscopy. In the 10 years since it was introduced, a vast body of literature on the procedure and its results support the use of this technique in the study of various mediastinal and pulmonary lesions. This article is a comprehensive, systematic review of all the available scientific evidence on the more general indications for this technique. Results of specific studies on efficacy, safety and cost-effectiveness available to date are examined. The analysis shows that EBUS-TBNA is a safe, cost-effective technique with a high grade of evidence that is a valuable tool in the diagnosis and mediastinal staging of patients with suspected or confirmed lung cancer. However, more studies are needed to guide decision-making in the case of a negative result. Evidence on the role of EBUS-TBNA in the diagnosis of sarcoidosis and extrathoracic malignancies is also high, but much lower when used in the study of tuberculosis, lymphoma and for the re-staging of lung cancer after neoadjuvant chemotherapy. Nevertheless, due to its good safety record and lack of invasiveness compared to surgical techniques, the grade of evidence for recommending EBUS-TBNA as the initial diagnostic test in patients with these diseases is very high in most cases.

[Role of endobronchial ultrasound-guided transbronchial needle aspiration in the diagnosis of mediastinal tuberculosis]. / Utilidad de la punción aspirativa transbronquial guiada con ultrasonografía endobronquial en el diagnóstico de la tuberculosis mediastínica.

INTRODUCTION: Mediastinal tuberculosis (TB) is rare and a diagnostic challenge. Transbronchial needle aspiration guided by endoscopic ultrasonography (EBUS-TBNA) is an essential tool for staging and diagnosing patients with lung cancer but to date there are no studies in our environment evaluating its efficacy in mediastinal TB. METHODS: Patients with a final diagnosis of isolated intrathoracic tuberculous lymphadenitis over a 6-year period were included. We analyzed the cases on whom EBUS-TBNA was performed. RESULTS: Forty-six patients with mediastinal lymphadenopathy without pulmonary involvement were identified and 29 underwent EBUS-TBNA. In 28 of 29 patients (96.6%) EBUS-TBNA was diagnostic and cytological findings confirmed granulomas in 93% of cases. Microbiological investigation revealed positive TB culture in 14 (48.2%) and positive PCR for Mycobacterium tuberculosis in 30% of cases on whom it was carried out. Eighty-four per cent of the patients were immigrants and when compared with the native population we found statistical differences in immune status and culture yield. CONCLUSION: EBUS-TBNA is a safe and effective technique in the diagnosis of patients with suspected mediastinal TB.

Viability of lymph node samples obtained by echobronchoscopy in the study of epigenetic alterations in patients with lung cancer.

INTRODUCTION: The diagnosis of microscopic lymph node metastasis in lung cancer is challenging despite the constant advances in tumor staging. The analysis of the methylation status of certain genes in lymph node samples could improve the diagnostic capability of conventional cyto-histological methods. The aim of this study was to demonstrate the feasibility of methylation studies using cytological lymph node samples. METHODS: Prospective study including 88 patients with a diagnosis or strong suspicion of non-small cell lung cancer, in which an echobronchoscopy was performed on mediastinal or hilar lymph nodes for diagnostic and/or staging. DNA was extracted from cytological lymph node samples and sodium bisulfite modification was performed. Methylation studies for p16/INK4a and SHOX2 were accomplished by MS-qPCR and pyrosequencing. RESULTS: The methodology used in our study yielded optimal/good DNA quality in 90% of the cases. No differences in DNA concentration were observed with respect to the lymph node biopsied and final diagnosis. Methylation analyses using MS-qPCR and pyrosequencing were not possible in a small number of samples mainly due to low DNA concentration, inadequate purity, fragmentation and/or degradation as a consequence of bisulfite conversion. CONCLUSION: Methylation quantification using MS-qPCR and pyrosequencing of cytological lymph node samples obtained using echobronchoscopy is feasible if an appropriate DNA concentration is obtained, notably contributing to the identification of epigenetic biomarkers capable of improving decision-making for the benefit of potentially curable lung cancer patients.

Utilidad de la PET/TC en el diagnóstico y estadificación del cáncer de pulmón tras ecobroncoscopia en población minera / Utility of PET/CT in the diagnosis and staging of lung cancer after ecobronchoscopy in mining population

IntroducciónLa tomografía por emisión de positrones (PET) en un único equipo junto a la tomografía axial computarizada (TC) es comúnmente denominada PET/TC. Ha sido ampliamente documentada y validada, de tal manera que hoy día forma parte del eje central en el diagnóstico y la estadificación del cáncer de pulmón. Sin embargo, su fiabilidad no ha sido estudiada en poblaciones específicas. El objetivo de esta investigación se centra en determinar la utilidad de la PET/TC en pacientes expuestos a la minería en los que se ha realizado una ecobroncoscopia (EBUS) para diagnóstico y/o estadificación de cáncer de pulmón.Pacientes y métodosSobre una base de datos prospectiva y en tiempo real, se seleccionaron todos los individuos sometidos a EBUS por sospecha de cáncer de pulmón y que previamente se habían realizado una PET/TC. La unidad de observación fue la adenopatía y, en función del antecedente de exposición a la minería, se dividió la muestra en dos grupos, grupo 1: no expuestos, grupo 2: expuestos. En cada grupo y tomando como variable dependiente los resultados de anatomía patológica, se realizaron modelos logísticos en busca de factores de riesgo independientes de malignidad.ResultadosEn el grupo 1, el tamaño mayor a 1 cm de las adenopatías y la captación en la PET/TC con valor de captación estándar máximo (SUVmáx) superior a 2,5, son factores de riesgo independientes de malignidad. Sin embargo, en el grupo 2 (paciente con exposición) ninguno de los factores anteriormente mencionados predice malignidad.DiscusiónEn la población de individuos con exposición laboral a la minería, la PET/TC es una técnica de imagen con limitaciones diagnósticas en el cáncer de pulmón.