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Updated: Dec 21, 2025
Author Spotlight: Expanding Interventional Pulmonology Research with Robotic-Assisted Bronchoscopy
Published on: July 19, 2024
Virtual or reality: divergence between preprocedural computed tomography scans and lung anatomy during guided
Michael A Pritchett1, Krish Bhadra2, Mike Calcutt3
1FirstHealth of the Carolinas and Pinehurst Medical Clinic, Pinehurst, NC, USA.
Abstract:
Guided bronchoscopy offers a minimally invasive and safe method for accessing indeterminate pulmonary nodules. However, all current guided bronchoscopy systems rely on a preprocedural computed tomography (CT) scan to create a virtual map of the patient's airways. Changes in lung anatomy between the preprocedural CT scan and the bronchoscopy procedure can lead to a divergence between the expected and actual location of the target lesion. Termed "CT-to-body divergence", this effect reduces diagnostic yield, adds time to the procedure, and can be challenging for the operator. The objective of this paper is to describe the concept of CT-to-body divergence, its contributing factors, and methods and technologies that might minimize its deleterious effects on diagnostic yield.
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