Carinal forceps biopsy via the fiberoptic bronchoscope in the routine staging of lung cancer

Main carinal biopsy was carried out in 58 consecutive patients with endobronchial (endoscopically visible) bronchogenic carcinoma. Overall, the results of the biopsy were positive in 8 of 58 patients (13.8%). The biopsy results were positive in 6 of 15 (40%) patients whose carina appeared abnormal as compared with 2 of 43 (4.7%) whose carina appeared normal (P = .0025). In those patients with subtle carinal abnormalities (carinal widening or erythema) but without gross tumor involvement, the biopsy findings were positive in 5 of 14 (36%). Unlike in previous studies, a significant percentage of positive carinal biopsy findings was associated with left upper lobe lesions. There were no complications associated with the procedure. Although the yield on blind carinal biopsies (visually normal carina) with the flexible fiberoptic bronchoscope is lower than that previously reported with the rigid bronchoscope, it remains a low-risk procedure that can spare a number of patients the morbidity and expense of more invasive surgical staging when applied as a routine part of diagnostic bronchoscopy in patients with endoscopically visible bronchogenic carcinoma.