Tuberc Respir Dis.  2014 Dec;77(6):251-257. 10.4046/trd.2014.77.6.251.

The Effects of Bronchoscope Diameter on the Diagnostic Yield of Transbronchial Lung Biopsy of Peripheral Pulmonary Nodules

• Lee N
• Kim SH
• Kwon W
• Lee MK
• Yong SJ
• Shin KC
• Jung YR
• Choi YS
• Choi J
• Choi JS
• Lee WY

• KMID: 1842992
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.4046/trd.2014.77.6.251

Abstract

BACKGROUND
Transbronchial lung biopsy (TBLB) is a valuable diagnostic tool for peripheral pulmonary lesions. The diagnostic yield of TBLB reportedly ranges from 41%-60%. Many studies demonstrated the various factors that influence the yield of TBLB, including size, location, and distance from the carina or pleura. However, no study has evaluated the effects of the bronchoscope diameter. We evaluated whether the bronchoscope diameter affected the diagnostic yield of TBLB.
METHODS
We reviewed records from 178 patients who underwent TBLB using bronchoscopes of two different diameters (5.7 mm, thick outer diameter, Olympus BF-200; 4.9 mm, thin, BF-260). The fluoroscopic guidance rates, yield of TBLB and flexible bronchoscopy (FB) were compared between the two groups. Additionally, we compared the results of the procedures with respect to diagnosis, distance from the pleura, and size of the lesion.
RESULTS
The results of fluoroscopic guidance, TBLB, and FB yield using thin diameter bronchoscope were significantly better than those obtained with a thick diameter bronchoscope (p=0.021, p=0.036, and p=0.010, respectively). Particularly, when the distance from the pleura was < or = 10 mm, success rates for fluoroscopic guidance and FB with thin bronchoscope were higher (p=0.013 and p=0.033, respectively), as compared to with thick bronchoscope.
CONCLUSION
A thinner diameter bronchoscope increased the yield of bronchoscopy, and bronchial washing in conjunction with TBLB was useful in the diagnosis of peripheral pulmonary nodules.

Keyword

Biopsy, Fine-Needle; Bronchoscopy; Lung Neoplasms; Bronchoscopy

MeSH Terms

Biopsy*
Biopsy, Fine-Needle
Bronchoscopes*
Bronchoscopy
Diagnosis
Humans
Lung Neoplasms
Lung*
Pleura

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