Related Experiment Video For Biopsy yield
Updated: May 8, 2025
Author Spotlight: Expanding Interventional Pulmonology Research with Robotic-Assisted Bronchoscopy
Published on: July 19, 2024
Safety and efficacy of transbronchial cryobiopsy for elderly lung cancer patients
Kumiko Yamatsuta1, Shotaro Okachi2, Shin Hasegawa1
1Department of Respiratory Medicine, Fujita Health University School of Medicine, 1-98 Dengakugakubo, Kutsukake-cho, Toyoake, 470-1192, Aichi, Japan.
Background:
The increasing prevalence of lung cancer in the elderly population necessitates a closer evaluation of diagnostic and therapeutic approaches. This study aimed to compare the safety and diagnostic efficacy of transbronchial lung cryobiopsy (TBLC) between patients ≥ 80 years and younger patients.
Methods:
A retrospective review was conducted of 96 patients diagnosed with peripheral lung cancer who underwent TBLC between April 2021 and October 2023. The patients were categorized into two groups: the elderly group (age ≥ 80 years, n = 20) and younger group (age < 80 years; n = 76). Data regarding the biopsy yield, complications, and feasibility of molecular analyses were collected and analyzed.
Results:
The diagnostic yield of TBLC was comparable between the elderly and younger groups (95% vs. 89.5%, p = 0.679). Biomarker testing, including programmed death-ligand 1 expression and genetic mutations, were feasible in all cases diagnosed with cancer using TBLC samples. No significant differences were observed in major complications such as pneumothorax or bleeding.
Conclusions:
TBLC was found to be a safe and effective diagnostic tool for peripheral lung cancer in elderly patients and provided adequate samples for molecular testing. Since the complication rates did not significantly differ between the two age groups, age alone should not be considered a contraindication for the procedure.
