[Treatment of malignant central airways obstruction by rigid bronchoscopy]. / Traitement par bronchoscopie rigide de l'obstruction maligne des voies aériennes centrales.

INTRODUCTION: Endobronchial resection is now the standard treatment for tracheobronchial narrowing due to malignancy. The clinical and functional respiratory improvement has been evaluated previously but only in heterogeneous population. METHODS: Between February 2009 and February 2011, we conducted a prospective single centre study at the University Hospital of Lille. Twenty-five patients with malignant tracheobronchial stenosis received a clinical and functional respiratory evaluation before and after a rigid bronchoscopy procedure to reduce the obstruction followed where appropriate by placement of an endobronchial stent. RESULTS: Thirteen patients (52%) had primary lung cancer and in 12 the tumor had another origin. Nineteen patients (76%) received a stent after bronchial unblocking. Clinically, all patients felt an improvement in their dyspnea estimated by the Borg score with a median improvement of -2 points [-1; -4] following the procedure (P<0.001). In 96% the dyspnea visual analogic scale improved by 40 mm [27; 67] (P<0.0001). The FEV1 increased significantly after unblocking by 9% [-3.5; 28.5] (P<0.05). The Rint decreased significantly by -0.19 kPa/L per second [-0.06; -0.023] (P=0.001). Correlations between scales of dyspnea and spirometric values were not significant (P>0.05). The survival rate at 1 year was 29%. CONCLUSION: Interventional bronchoscopy decreases dyspnea. It modestly improves respiratory function and decreases the Rint. However, lung function and dyspnea scales are not correlated. No spirometry factor can predict clinical dyspnea response but an elevated Borg dyspnea scale might be a good indicator.

[Diagnostic performance of EBUS-TBNA in patients with mediastinal lymphadenopathy and extrathoracic malignancy]. / Performance diagnostique de l'EBUS-PTBA chez des patients aux antécédents néoplasiques extrapulmonaires adressés pour adénopathies médiastinales.

INTRODUCTION: There is limited data about the diagnostic performance of EBUS-TBNA in patients with mediastinal lymphadenopathy and extrathoracic malignancy. METHODS: From January 2007 to July 2011, EBUS-TBNA was performed in 68 patients with a history of extrathoracic malignancy (current or past) and suspected mediastinal lymph node metastases. RESULTS: Thirty-one patients had a final diagnosis of cancer. In nineteen patients, the same histology was identified in the mediastinal nodes as in their prior extrathoracic cancer (colorectal cancer, esophageal cancer and lymphoma). In 12, the diagnosis was not "as expected" (ten lung cancers, one colorectal cancer, one unidentified cancer). Among 37 patients without diagnosis, biopsies in 27 showed normal lymphoid material, two had non-specific inflammation and eight had no contributory results. It was noted that procedures were reported to have been more difficult in these patients. CONCLUSIONS: Diagnostic performance of EBUS-TBNA in the context of extrathoracic malignancy is very variable depending on the origin of the cancer. Nevertheless, a diagnosis is concluded in almost 50% of the cases. These results underline the necessity to select carefully the indications of EBUS-TBNA in extrathoracic cancer.

[Feasibility of assessing EGFR mutation and others using samples obtained by EBUS transbronchial needle aspiration]. / Faisabilité de la recherche de mutations EGFR et KRAS sur des prélèvements obtenus par EBUS-PTBA.

INTRODUCTION: Assessment of mutation status in patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is often required. The aim of this study was to confirm the feasibility of molecular mutation analysis in cytologic specimens obtained by endobronchial ultrasound-guided transbronchial needle aspiration (EBUS-TBNA). METHODS: Patients with an EBUS-TBNA positive for adenocarcinoma or NSCLC (squamous cell carcinoma excluded) were included retrospectively from January to December 2010, and prospectively from January to August 2011. Specimens were collected on liquid based preparation and processed on paraffin-embedded cell blocks after ThinPrepÒ procedure. Molecular analysis was performed by a SnaPshot assay for EGFR and by pyrosequencing for KRAS on suitable samples (>5% tumor cells). RESULTS: Eighty-two patients were included (63 adenocarcinoma). Molecular analysis for EGFR was feasible in 80 (97.6%) patients and for KRAS in 78 (95.1%) patients. Molecular analysis identified EGFR and KRAS mutations in tumor samples from four (5%) and 18 (23%) patients respectively. All EGFR mutations were found in women. CONCLUSIONS: Molecular analysis mutations can be performed routinely in cytologic specimens obtained by EBUS-TBNA.

[Benign trachobronchial schwannoma treated by complete endoscopic resection followed by cryotherapy]. / Schwannome trachéal bénin traité par exérèse endoscopique et cryocoagulation.

INTRODUCTION: Tracheobronchial schwannoma is a rare benign airway tumour. There is no evidence to guide treatment for this condition. CASE REPORT: A 76-year-old woman with a history of ischemic cardiomyopathy was hospitalized for dyspnoea with bronchial symptoms. Incidentally, the CT scan of the chest identified a tracheal mass. The bronchoscopy revealed a multilobar and regular whitish tumour with moderate vascularisation that was not causing obstruction. The patient was treated by complete resection with a rigid bronchoscope followed by cryotherapy. The histopathologic diagnosis was of a benign schwannoma without malignant elements. There was no recurrence during the follow-up period. CONCLUSIONS: There is no consensus as to the optimal management of tracheal schwannoma because of the rarity of this tumour. Our observation supports the use of endoscopic resection with the additional of local cryotherapy which may reduce the risk of recurrence.

[Pulmonary embolism diagnosed during an endobronchial ultrasound procedure]. / Embolie pulmonaire diagnostiquée au cours d'une échoendoscopie bronchique.

INTRODUCTION: Pulmonary embolism occurs frequently in lung cancer. The clinical features are non-specific and the diagnosis is often missed. CASE REPORT: A 60-year old man presented with a right upper lobe mass associated with right hilar adenopathy. Both had activity on positron emission tomography. As bronchoscopy was normal, an endobronchial, ultrasound guided, transbronchial needle aspiration (EBUS-TBNA) was performed to obtain a diagnosis. During the procedure, a hypoechogenic image was seen in the right pulmonary artery. A CT pulmonary angiogram confirmed the diagnosis of right pulmonary embolism. The transbronchial needle aspiration confirmed the neoplastic nature of the adenopathy. To our knowledge, this is the first description of a pulmonary embolism diagnosed by EBUS. This observation confirms the results of a recently published study showing that known pulmonary embolism can be detected by EBUS. CONCLUSION: Although EBUS is not the classic tool for the diagnosis of pulmonary embolism, it seems advisable to undertake a careful examination of the proximal pulmonary artery during an EBUS procedure.

[Developping real time lymph node aspiration under endobronchial ultrasound control. One year's French experience in two different pulmonary departments]. / Mise en place de l'échoendoscopie bronchique avec ponction ganglionnaire en pneumologie: expérience française de deux centres.

INTRODUCTION: The histology and staging of bronchial carcinoma determines the treatment options for the condition. Endobronchial ultrasound allows the needle aspiration of mediastinal lymph nodes or pulmonary neoplasia where there is tracheo-bronchial contact under visual control. This procedure is aid for diagnosis and for mediastinal staging. French pulmonary departments have been slow to introduce this technique compared to other countries. METHODS: All Endobronchial ultrasound procedures performed during 2007 were retrospectively analysed in two pulmonary centres. The indications, practice management, complications, and diagnostic yield were reported. RESULTS: 103 Endobronchial ultrasound procedures were performed, in the majority under local anaesthesia in out-patients. Real time needle aspiration was performed only in 92 patients. Only 11 procedures were performed for mediastinal staging prior to thoracic surgery. 12.6% of patients had minor complications. 136 lymph node stations were sampled in 92 patients, but only 97 (70.3%) in 63 patients were judged to be 'satisfactory"(malignant cells and/or lymphocytes on cytology results). CONCLUSIONS: It is difficult to rapidly reach the diagnostic yield reported in literature. We think that appropriate training in the technique is of great importance.

[Interventional bronchoscopy in the management of lung cancer]. / Place de la bronchologie interventionnelle dans la prise en charge des cancers bronchiques.

The techniques of interventional bronchoscopy have acquired an important place in the management of lung cancer. Techniques to relieve obstruction requiring the use of rigid bronchoscopy under general anaesthetic were the first to be introduced. Laser therapy, which was initially used for coagulation can be replaced by electrocautery. The development of endobronchial stents provides a natural complement to techniques aimed at clearing bronchial obstruction by helping to maintain patency in the long term. Other therapeutic techniques can be deployed in association with those already mentioned, including photodynamic therapy and brachytherapy using low doses of radiation applied locally. These have particular potential for the treatment of early disease. Questions remain as to the precise indications for the different techniques and of how to identify which approach is most appropriate for individual patients.