Diagnosis of diffuse parenchymal lung diseases using transbronchial cryobiopsy guided by endobronchial ultrasound compared to clinicoradiological diagnosis

Background: This study aimed to evaluate the safety and effect of transbronchial cryobiopsy guided by radial probe endobronchial ultrasound (RP-EBUS) compared with clinicoradiological diagnoses in diffuse parenchymal lung diseases (DPLDs). Methods: A total of 60 patients with DPLDs confirmed by chest computed tomography ( CT) who underwent transbronchial lung cryobiopsy guided by RP-EBUS were enrolled. The ultrasound images were obtained and identified together with corresponding chest CT characteristics. The cryobiopsy samples were evaluated histopathologically and compared with CT imaging, and the complications were analyzed. Results: The multidisciplinary diagnosis was clear in 51 (85%) participants but unclear in the remaining 9 (15%) participants. In transbronchial cryobiopsy guided by RP-EBUS, 36 (60%) participants had the biopsy in 1 lobe while 24 (40%) had a biopsy in 2 different lobes, with a mean biopsy specimen size of 43.17 +/- 15.25 mm(2). The histopathologic diagnosis based on biopsy confirmed the preprocedural clinicoradiological diagnosis in 51 (85%) patients and clarified the diagnosis in the other 9 patients with unclear clinicoradiological diagnosis, including alveolated lung parenchyma with interstitial chronic inflammation in 4 (6.7%) cases and chronic bronchiolitis and interstitial lymphocytic infiltrates in the other 5 (8.3%). Intraprocedural complications occurred in 57 (95%) patients, including pneumothorax in 9 (15%), bleeding in 47 (78.3%), and hypoxemia in 1 (1.7%). The ultrasound images of DPLDs were normal, mesh (n=24), nodular (n=9), and alveolar type (n=27). Conclusions: Transbronchial cryobiopsy guided by RP-EBUS is safe and effective and can supply additional information to the clinicoradiological approach for correct diagnosis of DPLDs.

Automated summary

Transbronchial cryobiopsy guided by RP-EBUS is a safe and effective technique for diagnosing DPLDs, providing additional information to clinicoradiological diagnoses. Although complications were common, the majority of patients achieved a clear diagnosis through this approach.