Interbronchoscopist variability in the diagnosis of lung cancer by flexible bronchoscopy

We evaluated the interbronchoscopist variability in the diagnosis of lung cancer by flexible bronchoscopy.

A retrospective review of the bronchoscopic records and clinical charts of patients at a university-affiliated hospital.

All records of flexible bronchoscopic procedures performed for the diagnosis of lung cancer were retrospectively reviewed, and procedures that obtained histologic or cytologic evidence of malignancy were considered positive. Rates of positivity were compared according to the following factors: operator, operator experience, bronchoscopic findings, tumor location, and tumor laterality. Factors that affected the positivity rate were evaluated using logistic regression analysis.

Of 384 bronchoscopic procedures performed in 353 patients, 275 (72 percent) were positive. The positivity rate differed significantly depending on the operator (p = 0.003) and the bronchoscopic findings (p < 0.001). A difference between operators was noted in technically difficult cases without epithelial or subepithelial findings and when tumors were located in the upper lobe or the superior segment of the lower lobe. The bronchoscopic findings and the operator also emerged as factors significantly affecting the positivity rate in the logistic analysis.

The diagnostic yield of bronchoscopy for lung cancer is dependent on both the type of bronchial lesion present and the bronchoscopist.