Comparison of the specimen quality of endobronchial ultrasound-guided intranodal forceps biopsy using standard-sized forceps versus mini forceps for lung cancer: A prospective study.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Endobronchial ultrasound-guided transbronchial needle aspiration (EBUS-TBNA) is a diagnostic procedure with adequate performance; however, its ability to provide specimens of sufficient quality and quantity for treatment decision-making in advanced-stage lung cancer may be limited, primarily due to blood contamination. The use of a 0.96-mm miniforceps biopsy (MFB) permits true histological sampling, but the resulting small specimens are unsuitable for the intended applications. Therefore, we introduced a 1.9-mm standard-sized forceps biopsy (SFB) and compared its utility to that of MFB. METHODS: We prospectively enrolled patients from three institutions who presented with hilar/mediastinal lymphadenopathy and suspected advanced-stage lung cancer, or those who were already diagnosed but required additional tissue specimens for biomarker analysis. Each patient underwent MFB followed by SFB three or four times through the tract created by TBNA using a 22-gauge needle on the same lymph node (LN). Two pathologists assessed the quality and size of each specimen using a virtual slide system, and diagnostic performance was compared between the MFB and SFB groups. RESULTS: Among the 60 enrolled patients, 70.0% were diagnosed with adenocarcinoma. The most frequently targeted sites were the lower paratracheal LNs, followed by the interlobar LNs. The diagnostic yields of TBNA, MFB and SFB were 91.7%, 93.3% and 96.7%, respectively. The sampling rate of high-quality specimens was significantly higher in the SFB group. Moreover, the mean specimen size for SFB was three times larger than for MFB. CONCLUSION: SFB is useful for obtaining sufficient qualitative and quantitative specimens.

Combination of transbronchoscopic oxygen insufflation and a digital chest drainage system in endobronchial occlusion: a hybrid technique for localization of fistula in intractable pneumothorax.

BACKGROUND: The management of intractable secondary pneumothorax poses a considerable challenge as it is often not indicated for surgery owing to the presence of underlying disease and poor general condition. While endobronchial occlusion has been employed as a non-surgical treatment for intractable secondary pneumothorax, its effectiveness is limited by the difficulty of locating the bronchus leading to the fistula using conventional techniques. This report details a case treated with endobronchial occlusion where the combined use of transbronchoscopic oxygen insufflation and a digital chest drainage system enabled location of the bronchus responsible for a prolonged air leak, leading to the successful treatment of intractable secondary pneumothorax. CASE PRESENTATION: An 83-year-old male, previously diagnosed with chronic hypersensitivity pneumonitis and treated with long-term oxygen therapy and oral corticosteroid, was admitted due to a pneumothorax emergency. Owing to a prolonged air leak after thoracic drainage, the patient was deemed at risk of developing an intractable secondary pneumothorax. Due to his poor respiratory condition, endobronchial occlusion with silicone spigots was performed instead of surgery. The location of the bronchus leading to the fistula was unclear on CT imaging. When the bronchoscope was wedged into each subsegmental bronchus and low-flow oxygen was insufflated, a digital chest drainage system detected a significant increase of the air leak only in B5a and B5b, thus identifying the specific location of the bronchus leading to the fistula. With the occlusion of those bronchi using silicone spigots, the air leakage decreased from 200 mL/min to 20 mL/min, and the addition of an autologous blood patch enabled successful removal of the drainage tube. CONCLUSION: The combination of transbronchoscopic oxygen insufflation with a digital chest drainage system can enhance the therapeutic efficacy of endobronchial occlusion by addressing the problems encountered in conventional techniques, where the ability to identify the leaking bronchus is dependent on factors such as the amount of escaping air and the location of the fistula.

Diagnostic Utility and Safety of Non-Intubated Cryobiopsy Technique Using a Novel Ultrathin Cryoprobe in Addition to Conventional Biopsy Techniques for Peripheral Pulmonary Lesions.

BACKGROUND: Transbronchial cryobiopsy enables high-quality sample collection around the probe tip. Meanwhile, existing cryoprobes have less flexibility and a higher risk of bleeding. The ultrathin cryoprobe with a 1.1-mm diameter addresses these problems and allows specimens to be directly retrieved through the working channel of a thin bronchoscope. OBJECTIVE: This study evaluated the diagnostic utility and safety of non-intubated cryobiopsy using an ultrathin cryoprobe added to conventional biopsy for diagnosing peripheral pulmonary lesions (PPLs). METHODS: The data of patients who underwent conventional biopsy followed by non-intubated cryobiopsy to retrieve specimens through the thin bronchoscope's working channel for diagnosing PPLs at Osaka Metropolitan University Hospital from July 2021 to June 2022 were retrospectively collected. They were analyzed to evaluate the diagnostic utility and safety of adding non-intubated cryobiopsy to conventional biopsy for PPLs. The characteristics of PPLs that obtain additional diagnostic benefits from cryobiopsy over conventional biopsy were also investigated. RESULTS: The analysis included 113 patients. The diagnostic yields of conventional biopsy and non-intubated cryobiopsy were 70.8% and 82.3%, respectively (p = 0.009). The total diagnostic yield was 85.8%, higher than conventional biopsy alone (p < 0.001). Although one moderate bleeding occurred, no severe complications developed. The additional diagnostic benefits of non-intubated cryobiopsy over conventional biopsy were demonstrated when the radial endobronchial ultrasound (R-EBUS) showed "adjacent to" (60.3% vs. 82.8%, p = 0.017). CONCLUSIONS: Non-intubated cryobiopsy using an ultrathin cryoprobe has high diagnostic utility and safety for diagnosing PPLs, with additional diagnostic benefits over conventional biopsy depending on the R-EBUS image.

Safety profile and risk factors for bleeding in transbronchial cryobiopsy using a two-scope technique for peripheral pulmonary lesions.

BACKGROUND: A balloon occlusion technique is suggested for use in cryobiopsy for interstitial lung diseases because of the bleeding risk. However, it may interfere with selection of the involved bronchus for peripheral pulmonary lesions (PPLs). A two-scope technique, in which two scopes are prepared and hemostasis is started using the second scope immediately after cryobiopsy, has also been reported. This study aimed to evaluate the safety and diagnostic utility of transbronchial cryobiopsy using the two-scope technique for PPLs. METHODS: Data of patients who underwent conventional biopsy followed by cryobiopsy using the two-scope technique for PPLs from November 2019 to March 2021 were collected. The incidence of complications and risk factors for clinically significant bleeding (moderate to life-threatening) were investigated. Diagnostic yields were also compared among conventional biopsy, cryobiopsy, and the combination of them. RESULTS: A total of 139 patients were analyzed. Moderate bleeding occurred in 25 (18.0%) patients without severe/life-threatening bleeding. Although five cases required transbronchial instillation of thrombin, all bleeding was completely controlled using the two-scope technique. Other complications included two pneumothoraces and one asthmatic attack. On multivariable analysis, only ground-glass features (P < 0.001, odds ratio: 9.30) were associated with clinically significant bleeding. The diagnostic yields of conventional biopsy and cryobiopsy were 76.3% and 81.3%, respectively (P = 0.28). The total diagnostic yield was 89.9%, significantly higher than conventional biopsy alone (P < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: The two-scope technique provides useful hemostasis for safe cryobiopsy for PPLs, with a careful decision needed for ground-glass lesions.

Invasive pulmonary aspergillosis caused by Aspergillus terreus diagnosed using virtual bronchoscopic navigation and endobronchial ultrasonography with guide sheath and successfully treated with liposomal amphotericin B.

Invasive aspergillosis is a significant cause of mortality in patients with hematological malignancy. Early diagnosis of invasive pulmonary aspergillosis (IPA) by bronchoscopy is recommended but is often difficult to perform because of small lesion size and bleeding risk due to thrombocytopenia. A 71-year-old woman had received initial induction therapy for acute myeloid leukemia. On day 22 of chemotherapy, she had a high fever, and the chest computed tomography scan revealed a 20-mm-sized nodule with a halo sign. Bronchoscopy assisted by virtual bronchoscopic navigation (VBN) and endobronchial ultrasonography with a guide sheath (EBUS-GS) was performed, and Aspergillus terreus was identified from the culture of obtained specimens. A. terreus is often resistant to amphotericin B; thus, voriconazole is usually recommended for treatment. However, the obtained A. terreus isolate showed minimal inhibitory concentrations of 2 µg/mL for voriconazole and 0.5 µg/mL for amphotericin B. Therefore, the patient was successfully treated with liposomal amphotericin B. For patients suspected of having IPA, early diagnosis and drug susceptibility testing are very important. This case suggests that bronchoscopy using VBN and EBUS-GS is helpful for accurate diagnosis and successful treatment even if the lesion is small and the patient has a bleeding risk.

Feasibility study of cryobiopsy for practical pathological diagnosis of primary lung cancer including immunohistochemical assessment.

BACKGROUND: Precision medicine in non-small cell lung cancer requires attainment of a sufficient amount of high-quality tumor tissue. Transbronchial cryobiopsy has emerged as a new diagnostic method for non-neoplastic lung disease with a better potential to assess morphology compared with conventional methods. However, the influence of cryobiopsy on specimen quality, particularly detection of protein expression, is unknown. We performed a comparative immunohistochemical study in specimens obtained by cryobiopsy versus conventional sampling to evaluate the feasibility of cryobiopsy for lung cancer diagnosis. METHODS: Pairs of artificial biopsy specimens, collected using a cryoprobe or conventional scalpel, were obtained from 43 surgically resected primary lung tumors. Formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded blocks were prepared in an ISO15189-certified laboratory. Immunohistochemical staining of thyroid transcription factor-1, p40, Ki67 and programmed death-ligand 1 (22C3) was performed. The H-scores for thyroid transcription factor-1 and p40, labeling index for Ki67 and tumor proportion score for programmed death-ligand 1 were assessed. Pearson's correlation coefficients between two sampling types were calculated. RESULTS: The thyroid transcription factor-1 and p40 H-scores showed perfect correlations between the cryobiopsy and conventional scalpel-obtained specimens (R2 = 0.977 and 0.996, respectively). Ki67 labeling index and PD-L1 tumor proportion score also showed strong correlations between the two sample types (R2 = 0.896 and 0.851, respectively). Five cases (11.6%) exhibited differences in tumor proportion score category between sample types, potentially because of intratumoral heterogeneity. CONCLUSIONS: Immunohistochemical expression of certain tumor markers showed a high concordance between cryobiopsy and conventional scalpel sampling. Cryobiopsy is feasible for pathological diagnostics including PD-L1 evaluation.

The utility of transbronchial rebiopsy for peripheral pulmonary lesions in patients with advanced non-squamous non-small cell lung cancer.

BACKGROUND: Patients treated for non-squamous (non-Sq) non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) often require repeat biopsies to determine the optimal subsequent treatment. However, the differences between rebiopsy and initial biopsy in terms of their diagnostic yields and their ability to test the molecular profiles using bronchoscopy with radial endobronchial ultrasound guidance in patients with advanced NSCLC remain unclear. Hence, we aimed to compare the diagnostic yields and ability for molecular analyses of rebiopsies with those of initial biopsies. METHODS: We investigated 301 patients with advanced non-Sq NSCLC who underwent radial endobronchial ultrasound-guided transbronchial biopsy (TBB) for peripheral pulmonary lesions (PPLs) between August 2014 and July 2017. Patients were divided into the rebiopsy and initial biopsy groups: the latter referred to the biopsy that determined the definitive diagnosis. The diagnostic yields and ability for molecular analyses were compared between the two groups, and the factors affecting the TBB diagnostic yield were identified using univariate and multivariate analyses. RESULTS: The diagnostic yields of the rebiopsy and initial biopsy groups were comparable (86.8 and 90.8%, respectively; p = 0.287). Furthermore, 93.0 and 94.0% of the patients in the rebiopsy and initial biopsy groups, respectively, had adequate specimens for gene profiling and mutational analysis (p = 0.765). The factors that increased the diagnostic yield were a positive bronchus sign (p < 0.001) and tumour location within the internal two-thirds of the lungs (p = 0.026). CONCLUSIONS: The PPL diagnostic yield of the rebiopsy group was as high as that of the initial biopsy group. Hence, TBB for PPLs is feasible for patients requiring rebiopsy as well as for those with initial diagnoses. Adequate, high-quality biopsy specimens can be obtained by transbronchial rebiopsy for molecular testing.

Cryobiopsy during flex-rigid pleuroscopy: an emerging alternative biopsy method in malignant pleural mesothelioma. A comparative study of pathology.

BACKGROUND: Malignant pleural mesothelioma (MPM) is rarely an asbestos-related cancer with a poor prognosis that is difficult to distinguish from some benign conditions by using conventional biopsy techniques. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the utility of a novel biopsy technique using a cryoprobe during flex-rigid pleuroscopy for diagnosing MPM. METHODS: Consecutive patients who underwent pleural cryobiopsy during flex-rigid pleuroscopy from June through November 2017 to diagnose the cause of pleural effusion were collected. From these, cases ultimately diagnosed as MPM were selected. Pleural biopsies were performed by using conventional instruments followed by a cryoprobe. The obtained samples were histologically examined and compared with regard to the quality (sample size, tissue depth, and crush rate), immunohistochemical (IHC) staining, and p16 by fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH). RESULTS: In total, five patients ultimately diagnosed as MPM were enrolled. The sample collected was significantly larger for cryobiopsy than conventional biopsy (18.9 mm2 vs. 6.7 mm2, P < 0.001). Full-thickness biopsies were achieved in four cases by using cryobiopsy compared with one case by conventional biopsy. Moreover, the crush rate was significantly less for cryobiopsy than conventional biopsy (9% vs. 35%, P < 0.001). The results of IHC staining and p16 by FISH were similar between biopsy techniques. Cryobiopsy successfully led to accurate diagnosis of MPM in all cases, whereas conventional biopsy was diagnostic in one case. No severe complications developed after either biopsy technique. CONCLUSION: Cryobiopsy during flex-rigid pleuroscopy is a feasible and convenient biopsy technique that supports precise diagnosis of MPM.

Utility of rapid on-site cytologic evaluation during endobronchial ultrasound with a guide sheath for peripheral pulmonary lesions.

OBJECTIVE: The utility of rapid on-site evaluation during endobronchial ultrasound with a guide sheath for peripheral pulmonary lesions is unclear. The aim of this study was to evaluate the role of rapid on-site evaluation during endobronchial ultrasound with a guide sheath for peripheral pulmonary lesions. METHODS: Consecutive patients who underwent endobronchial ultrasound with a guide sheath for the diagnosis of peripheral pulmonary lesions at our hospital between September 2012 and July 2014 were included in this retrospective study. Cytology slides were air-dried, and modified Giemsa (Diff-Quik) staining was used for rapid on-site evaluation. Additional smears were prepared for Papanicolaou staining and tissue samples were placed in formalin for histologic evaluation. The results of rapid on-site evaluation were compared with the final diagnoses of endobronchial ultrasound with a guide sheath. RESULTS: A total of 718 cases were included in the study population. The sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, negative predictive value and diagnostic accuracy of rapid on-site evaluation during endobronchial ultrasound with a guide sheath for peripheral pulmonary lesions was 88.6%, 65.9%, 81.2%, 77.7% and 80.1%, respectively. There were no procedure-related deaths. CONCLUSIONS: Rapid on-site evaluation during endobronchial ultrasound with a guide sheath had high sensitivity for peripheral pulmonary lesions. When carrying out rapid on-site evaluation of transbronchial biopsy samples from peripheral pulmonary lesions, careful interpretation and clinical correlation are necessary.

Diagnostic efficacy of cryobiopsy for peripheral pulmonary lesions: A propensity score analysis.

OBJECTIVES: Recently introduced cryobiopsy can provide quantitatively and qualitatively excellent specimens. However, few studies have directly compared the diagnostic yield of cryobiopsy for peripheral pulmonary lesions (PPLs) with that of conventional sampling methods. MATERIAL AND METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed data from consecutive patients who underwent diagnostic bronchoscopy using radial endobronchial ultrasound and virtual bronchoscopic navigation for PPLs (October 2015 to September 2020). Patients who underwent cryobiopsy were assigned to the cryo group, whereas those who did not undergo cryobiopsy were assigned to the conventional group. The diagnostic outcomes of both groups were compared using propensity score analyses. RESULTS: A total of 2,724 cases were identified, including 492 and 2,232 cases in the cryo and conventional groups, respectively. Propensity scoring was performed to match baseline characteristics, and 481 pairs of cases were selected for each matched group (m-group). The diagnostic yield was significantly higher in the m-cryo group than in the m-conventional group (89.2% vs. 77.6%, odds ratio [OR] = 2.36 [95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.65-3.38], P < 0.001). Propensity score stratification (OR = 2.35 [95% CI = 1.71-3.23]) and regression adjustment (OR = 2.54 [95% CI = 1.83-3.52]) also demonstrated the diagnostic advantages of cryobiopsy. The subgroup analysis revealed that cryobiopsy was notably effective for lesions in the middle lobe/lingula, right/left lower lobe, lesions with ground-glass opacity, and lesions invisible on chest radiography. Although there were more cases of grade 2 and 3 bleeding in the m-cryo group than in the m-conventional group (38.0% vs. 10.2% and 1.5% vs. 0.8%, respectively; P < 0.001), no grade 4 bleeding was observed. CONCLUSION: The propensity score analyses revealed that cryobiopsy was associated with a higher diagnostic yield for PPLs than conventional sampling methods. However, increased bleeding risk should be noted as a potential complication.

A Case of Successful Removal of a Foreign Body Located in the Peripheral Airway Using Flexible Bronchoscopy with Virtual Bronchoscopy Navigation.

A case in which a foreign body located in the peripheral airway of the lung was removed by flexible bronchoscopy using a virtual bronchoscopy navigation (VBN) system has been reported. The patient was a 60-year-old man. Chest radiography revealed an incidental foreign body in the left lower lung. Chest computed tomography with 1.0-mm slices was used to create a VBN system and confirm the foreign body in left B9biiαy, which was removed by flexible bronchoscopy. Thus, peripheral foreign bodies can be safely removed using flexible bronchoscopy by creating a VBN system in advance.

Tract creation with a 25-gauge needle for convex endobronchial ultrasound-guided core biopsy in intrapulmonary lesions adjacent to bronchi: three case reports.

Background: The use of endobronchial ultrasound-guided core biopsy (EBUS-CB) using forceps or cryoprobes to obtain true histological samples has improved the diagnostic yield for mediastinal and hilar lymphadenopathy. Tract creation in the bronchial wall of the central airway is primarily performed using electrocautery devices in EBUS-CB; however, their poor maneuverability and the risk of vascular injury and damage to the tip of the bronchoscope have prevented the application of EBUS-CB for diagnosing intrapulmonary lesions beyond the central locations. This report presents three cases wherein a 25-gauge transbronchial needle aspiration (TBNA) needle with high flexibility and safety was used to create a tract in the bronchial wall for EBUS-CB of the intrapulmonary lesions adjacent to the bronchi. Case Description: In all cases, EBUS-TBNA using a 25-gauge TBNA needle was performed on the intrapulmonary lesions adjacent to the bronchi, followed by EBUS-CB with 1.9-mm forceps in two cases and also with a 1.1-mm cryoprobe in one case. The EBUS-TBNA specimens revealed no abnormality or only a small number of tumor cells. However, subsequent EBUS-CB, through the tract created by EBUS-TBNA, enabled the collection of a sufficient amount of histological samples with well-preserved histoarchitecture. The histological diagnosis was made via immunostaining, and multigene mutation testing was also successfully analyzed. Conclusions: The use of a 25-gauge needle for creating a tract allows EBUS-CB for the intrapulmonary lesions and may allow for the collection of sufficient histological samples for biomarker analysis and tissue diagnosis.

Reduced CYP2D6 function is associated with gefitinib-induced rash in patients with non-small cell lung cancer.

BACKGROUND: Rash, liver dysfunction, and diarrhea are known major adverse events associated with erlotinib and gefitinib. However, clinical trials with gefitinib have reported different proportions of adverse events compared to trials with erlotinib. In an in vitro study, cytochrome P450 (CYP) 2D6 was shown to be involved in the metabolism of gefitinib but not erlotinib. It has been hypothesized that CYP2D6 phenotypes may be implicated in different adverse events associated with gefitinib and erlotinib therapies. METHODS: The frequency of each adverse event was evaluated during the period in which the patients received gefitinib or erlotinib therapy. CYP2D6 phenotypes were determined by analysis of CYP2D6 genotypes using real-time polymerase chain reaction techniques, which can detect single-nucleotide polymorphisms. The CYP2D6 phenotypes were categorized into 2 groups according to functional or reduced metabolic levels. In addition, we evaluated the odds ratio (OR) of the adverse events associated with each factor, including CYP2D6 activities and treatment types. RESULTS: A total of 232 patients received gefitinib therapy, and 86 received erlotinib therapy. Reduced function of CYP2D6 was associated with an increased risk of rash of grade 2 or more (OR, 0.44; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.21-0.94; *p = 0.03), but not diarrhea ≥ grade 2 (OR, 0.49; 95% CI, 0.17-1.51; *p = 0.20) or liver dysfunction ≥ grade 2 (OR, 1.08; 95% CI, 0.52-2.34; *p = 0.84) in the gefitinib cohort. No associations were observed between any adverse events in the erlotinib cohort and CYP2D6 phenotypes (rash: OR, 1.77; 95% CI, 0.54-6.41; *p = 0.35/diarrhea: OR, 1.08; 95% CI, 0.21-7.43; *p = 0.93/liver dysfunction: OR, 0.93; 95% CI, 0.20-5.07; *p = 0.93). CONCLUSIONS: The frequency of rash was significantly higher in patients with reduced CYP2D6 activity who treated with gefitinib compared to patients with functional CYP2D6. CYP2D6 phenotypes are a risk factor for the development of rash in response to gefitinib therapy.

Highly Synergistic Sensor of Graphene Electrode Functionalized with Rutile TiO2 Microstructures to Detect L-Tryptophan Compound.

Electrochemical processes are an effective method for detecting dangerous food ingredients. The synergistic between the reduction-oxidation (redox) processes inspired several papers and spurred research towards studying the new materials that can further adapt to optimize the rapid detection of chemical compounds. In this study, we report the eco-synthesis using graphene/TiO2 rutile (G/TiO2) electrode microstructures easily prepared through the physical method by mixing graphene and TiO2 powder and its application for sensing L-tryptophan (Trp) compound. The material characterization results show that the graphene surface is smoother than the G/TiO2 material. Graphene has been detected using X-ray diffraction (XRD) at a value of 2 thetas 26.39° and TiO2 forms rutile crystals (110). The FTIR spectrum exhibits the functional groups from graphene of -OH, C-H, C=C, C-O, and TiO2 identified with Ti-O bonds. The electrochemical test against G/TiO2 electrode microstructures for Trp compound shows that 0.5 g TiO2 rutile was the best composition functionalized with graphene material under 0.1M K3[Fe(CN)6] + 0.1M NaNO3 electrolyte with a scan rate of 0.1 V/s. Determination of the detection limit was obtained at 0.005 mg/L with a HorRat value of 1.05%. The stability test was carried out for 25 days, and the addition of Pb(NO3)2 as an interference compound had a significant effect on the decrease in electrode performance.

Idiopathic Obliterative Bronchiolitis in a Young Woman: A Rare Case of a Transbronchial Lung Biopsy Contributing to the Diagnosis.

Idiopathic obliterative bronchiolitis (OB) is a rare disease that usually requires a surgical lung biopsy. A 25-year-old woman with progressive exertional dyspnea for several months showed a severe mixed restrictive and obstructive pattern on spirometry. Chest computed tomography showed a mosaic pattern, and pulmonary ventilation-perfusion scintigraphy showed a matched defect. The bronchoscopic specimens obtained from both the alveolar and bronchiolar regions of the predicted lesion area contributed to the diagnosis of OB. She had no underlying causes of secondary OB, and she was diagnosed with idiopathic OB. Since lung transplantation was indicated, she was referred to a lung transplantation-certified hospital.

Pleural staging using local anesthetic thoracoscopy in dry pleural dissemination and minimal pleural effusion.

BACKGROUND: Dry pleural dissemination (DPD) and minimal (<10 mm thick) pleural effusion (PE) may be discovered intraoperatively as unexpected metastases. A definitive diagnostic procedure such as pleural biopsy is rarely attempted in such patients preoperatively. We retrospectively investigated the use and safety of local anesthetic thoracoscopy (LAT) as a pleural staging tool in the diagnosis of DPD and minimal PE. METHODS: We reviewed 18 patients with non-small cell lung cancer (radiological DPD and minimal PE in 13 and five patients, respectively) who underwent LAT using a flex-rigid pleuroscope for pleural staging from April 2015 to September 2020. RESULTS: The median age of the patients was 72 years. Nine patients (50%) were men. The dominant histological type was adenocarcinoma (n = 16). Three patients each with radiological DPD and minimal PE had visible PE on the LAT. Pleural biopsy was performed in the 16 cases in which pleural abnormalities were identified. On pleural staging, five cases were diagnosed without pleural dissemination (M0), and 13 cases were diagnosed with pleural dissemination (M1a). Only one case in which the lesion could not be identified because of pleural adhesions was false-negative. The success rates for pleural staging, sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, and negative predictive value were 94.4% (17/18), 92.8% (13/14), 100% (4/4), 100% (13/13), and 80.0% (4/5), respectively. There were no lung lacerations or other severe complications caused by the procedure or during blunt dissection. CONCLUSION: LAT might be a useful tool for accurate pleural staging in cases with DPD and minimal PE suspected radiologically.

Diagnostic Outcomes and Safety of Cryobiopsy Added to Conventional Sampling Methods: An Observational Study.

BACKGROUND: Cryobiopsy enables specialists to perform high-quality, large, entirely circumferential biopsies; therefore, it may improve the diagnostic yield of peripheral pulmonary lesions (PPLs), as has been previously observed regarding endobronchial tumors and interstitial lung diseases. RESEARCH QUESTION: How do the diagnostic accuracy and safety change by cryobiopsy when performed alongside conventional biopsy for PPLs? STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS: Consecutive patients who underwent cryobiopsy in addition to conventional biopsies for PPL diagnosis at our institution between June 2017 and May 2018 were reviewed retrospectively. The target location was estimated and sampling was performed using conventional devices (ie, forceps, brush, aspiration needle), and cryobiopsy was performed at the same location. Diagnostic outcomes and cryobiopsy safety when performed in addition to conventional sampling methods were analyzed in this observational study. RESULTS: In total, 257 patients were analyzed, and the overall diagnostic yield was 89.9%. Among them, 22 lesions were diagnosable by cryobiopsy exclusively, which improved the rate of diagnosis by 8.6%. Advantages of the use of cryobiopsy were the most apparent when lesions were adjacent to areas assessed via radial endobronchial ultrasound (69.4% vs 84.3%). Multivariable analysis identified bronchus sign (positive/negative, P = .001), lobe (other lobes/right upper lobe and left upper segment, P = .028), and visibility on radiograph (visible/invisible, P = .047) as factors that significantly affected diagnostic yield. On the other hand, three instances of severe hemorrhage (1.2%) and two of pneumothorax (0.8%) occurred. Although most complications were minor, two patients required hospitalization because of cerebral infarction and lung abscess. INTERPRETATION: Cryobiopsy improves the diagnostic yield of PPLs when combined with other conventional sampling methods; however, caution is required because of the possibility of complications.

Phase II Study of the Modified Weekly Nab-paclitaxel Regimen in Previously Treated Patients With Advanced Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer.

OBJECTIVES: We conducted a clinical phase II study to evaluate the modified weekly nanoparticle albumin-bound paclitaxel (nab-paclitaxel) regimen in pretreated patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). MATERIALS AND METHODS: This multicenter single-arm phase II study enrolled patients with advanced NSCLC who had previously received >1 chemotherapy regimen. Patients received nab-paclitaxel at 80 mg/m2 on days 1, 8, and 15 (21-d cycle). The primary endpoint was the investigator-assessed overall response rate (ORR). Secondary endpoints included overall survival, progression-free survival (PFS), disease control rate, and safety. The planned enrollment was 30 patients according to a Simon 2-stage minimax design. RESULTS: Thirty patients were enrolled between November 2015 and August 2017. Seventeen patients (56.7%) had received >2 regimens. The ORR was 23.3% (95% confidence interval [CI], 8.2%-38.4%), meeting the primary objective of the study. Median PFS was 5.7 months (95% CI, 3.4-9.0 mo), and median overall survival was 12.6 months (95% CI, 8.7-20.8 mo). The median number of treatment cycles was 4 (range, 1 to 20) over the entire study period, and median dose intensity was 63.6 mg/m2/wk (range, 45.7 to 100.0 mg/m2/wk). No new safety signals were reported; the most common grade ≥3 adverse events were neutropenia (56.7%), leukopenia (23.3%), and infection (10.0%). No cases of febrile neutropenia were observed. CONCLUSIONS: Nab-paclitaxel monotherapy with a dose and schedule suitable for outpatients showed high ORR, long median PFS, and acceptable toxicity for patients with previously treated NSCLC. This dosage method may be useful for selected patients.

Efficacy and safety of ultrasound (US) guided percutaneous needle biopsy for peripheral lung or pleural lesion: comparison with computed tomography (CT) guided needle biopsy.

BACKGROUND: Ultrasound (US)-guided percutaneous needle biopsy is a useful diagnostic technique with short examination time and real-time monitoring at the bedside. However, there are only a few studies that report on thoracic lesions, whereas the computed tomography (CT)-guided biopsy is well established. There is also limited data comparing US- and CT-guided biopsy. We aimed to clarify the efficacy and safety of US-guided biopsy for thoracic lesions adjacent to the chest wall. METHODS: We retrospectively enrolled consecutive patients who underwent US- or CT-guided percutaneous biopsies for thoracic lesions adjacent to the chest wall between April 2012 and December 2017. Clinical characteristics, lesion size, lesion-pleura contact arc length (LPCAL), diagnostic rate, and complications were compared between the 2 groups. RESULTS: This study enrolled 61 US-guided and 70 CT-guided biopsies. No significant difference was found in age or sex. The lesion size and LPCAL in the US-guided group were significantly larger than those in the CT-guided group (P<0.0001). The diagnostic rate was marginally higher in the US-guided group (93.4%) than in the CT-guided group (84.3%) (P=0.101). When the median cut-off of the LPCAL was defined as 40 mm in all cases, the diagnostic rate for lesion size >40 mm was significantly higher in the US-guided group than in the CT-guided group (P=0.009). Complication rates were significantly lower in the US-guided group (3.3%) than in the CT-guided group (24.3%) (P<0.001). CONCLUSIONS: US-guided percutaneous needle biopsy for thoracic lesions adjacent to the chest wall is a feasible technique compared with CT-guided biopsy because of its higher diagnostic rate with a longer LPCAL and reduced complications.

Factors affecting bacterial culture positivity in specimens from bronchoscopy in patients with suspected lung cancer.

BACKGROUND: Bronchoscopy is important to diagnose lung cancer. However, some patients who undergo bronchoscopic procedures develop respiratory tract infections. Little is known about the proportion of pathogen-positive results in bacterial cultures from diagnostic bronchoscopy samples in patients with suspected lung cancer. This study aimed to determine the rate of positive bacterial cultures after diagnostic bronchoscopy in patients with suspected lung cancer and the relationship among culture results, clinical characteristics, and respiratory tract infections. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of all immunocompetent patients who underwent bronchoscopy and had culture and histological samples for the diagnosis of peripheral pulmonary lesions from September 2012 to August 2014 at the National Cancer Center in Tokyo. We analyzed data and classified radiological lesions into the following categories: calcifications, cavitations, low-density areas, margin irregularities, and satellite nodules. RESULTS: The study population consisted of 328 patients (median age, 69 years). We found that 65.9% of patients had malignant lesions and 4.2% of patients had positive cultures for pathogenic bacteria. The number of calcifications (p = 0.002, 95% CI: 2.17-41.10) was significantly higher in patients with positive bacterial isolates, according to the multivariate analysis, and bacterial culture positivity was not associated with the development of respiratory complications after bronchoscopy. Of the three patients with respiratory complications, all presented with cavitations. CONCLUSION: Because of the low prevalence of positive bacterial cultures in patients with suspected lung cancer, bacterial culture may be limited to specific patients, such as those with calcifications. Lesions with cavitation warrant close monitoring.