Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 27, 2025
Author Spotlight: Expanding Interventional Pulmonology Research with Robotic-Assisted Bronchoscopy
Published on: July 19, 2024
Navigational Bronchoscopy with Cryobiopsy for Diagnosis of ILD
Fernando Figueroa Rodriguez1, Asfar Ghauri1, Tony Abdo1
1Interventional Pulmonary Program, Section of Pulmonary, Critical Care and Sleep Medicine, The Oklahoma City VA Health Care System, USA.
Insights
Navigational bronchoscopy with lung cryobiopsy (LCB) offers a potentially safer method for diagnosing interstitial lung diseases (ILDs). This technique guided by CT angiography and ultrasound achieved diagnoses without complications in two patients.
Area of Science:
- Pulmonology
- Interventional Radiology
Background:
- Interstitial lung diseases (ILDs) require accurate pathologic diagnosis.
- Lung cryobiopsy (LCB) offers high diagnostic yield but carries significant complication risks.
- Navigational bronchoscopy (NB) combined with advanced imaging can potentially mitigate these risks.
Observation:
- Two cases of ILD diagnosis using NB-guided LCB are presented.
- CT chest angiogram (CTA) with navigational protocol identified and premarked target areas.
- Radial ultrasound (RU) and fluoroscopy guidance (FG) were used prior to cryobiopsy sampling.
Findings:
- Both patients received a definitive diagnosis via NB-guided LCB.
- Procedures were performed safely, with no reported complications.
- Patients were discharged home post-procedure.
Implications:
- NB-guided LCB may enhance the safety and diagnostic yield of ILD diagnosis.
- Precise targeting of diseased lung areas with minimal vascularization is achievable.
- Further large-scale trials are warranted to validate the benefits of this approach.
Background:
Interstitial lung diseases (ILDs) are a group of parenchymal pulmonary diseases in which pathologic diagnosis is essential. Although cryobiopsy has a high diagnostic yield, the complication rate remains high. Case Presentation. We report two cases of lung cryobiopsy guided by navigational bronchoscopy (LCB) for the diagnosis of ILD. In both cases, a CT chest angiogram (CTA) using a navigational protocol was performed. Targets were premarked and reached with the navigational system. Radial ultrasound (RU) was applied in combination with fluoroscopy guidance (FG) prior to sampling. Both patients achieved a final diagnosis; they were discharged home after procedure and no complications were noted. Discussion. By using a CTA with navigational guidance, we were able to perform cryobiopsy in areas with most disease activity and least vascularization.
Conclusion:
LCB used with navigational guidance for the diagnosis of ILD provides may be a safe and effective procedure that provides high diagnostic yield. Limitations include cost, availability, and expertise. Larger trials are needed to confirm the additional benefit.
More Related Videos
09:01The Bovine Lung in Biomedical Research: Visually Guided Bronchoscopy, Intrabronchial Inoculation and In Vivo Sampling Techniques
Published on: July 3, 2014
10:19Substernal Thyroid Biopsy Using Endobronchial Ultrasound-guided Transbronchial Needle Aspiration
Published on: November 10, 2014
Related Concept Videos
01:30Endoscopic Studies I: Bronchoscopy and Thoracoscopy
Bronchoscopy
Description
Bronchoscopy is a procedure that involves direct visualization of the larynx, trachea, and bronchi for diagnostic and therapeutic purposes. A flexible fiber optic or rigid bronchoscope is used to carry out the procedure. The fiber-optic bronchoscope is more frequently used due...
01:27Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease-IV: Assessement and Diagnostic Studies
Medical History