Rapid On-Site Digital Histopatholocal Evaluation (RODE) on Endobronchial Ultrasound (EBUS) Mediastinal Lymph Node...

Area of Science:

• Pulmonology
• Pathology
• Medical Imaging

Background:

• Endobronchial Ultrasound (EBUS)-guided mediastinal sampling traditionally relies on Rapid On-site Evaluation (ROSE) of Fine Needle Aspiration (FNA) samples.
• Mediastinal lymph node cryobiopsy is emerging as an alternative, with potential for on-site evaluation via imprint cytology.
• There is a need for faster, more accurate methods for assessing sample adequacy during EBUS-guided procedures.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore the utility of Viva Scope 2500 (confocal laser microscopy) for rapid on-site digital histopathological evaluation of EBUS-guided mediastinal lymph node cryobiopsy samples.
• To assess the comparability and advantages of this digital approach (RODE) against conventional histopathology and ROSE.

Main Methods:

• Four cases of mediastinal lymph node cryobiopsy were performed.
• Samples underwent rapid digital histopathological examination using Viva Scope 2500 (confocal laser microscopy).
• Results were compared with final conventional histopathology.

Main Results:

• Confocal laser microscopy (Viva Scope 2500) demonstrated comparability to conventional histopathology.
• The technique provided superior speed for on-site diagnosis, significantly reducing the time to diagnosis.
• Enhanced tissue preservation for downstream molecular analysis was an additional advantage.

Conclusions:

• Rapid On-site Digital Evaluation (RODE) using Viva Scope 2500 is a viable and effective method for assessing EBUS-guided mediastinal lymph node cryobiopsy samples.
• RODE offers a significant reduction in procedural time and increases operator confidence compared to ROSE and conventional histopathology.
• This digital approach is a promising alternative, improving diagnostic efficiency and preserving tissue for molecular studies.