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How much brushing is enough for the diagnosis of lung tumors?
Author(s) -
Popp Wolfgang,
Merkle Monika,
Schreiber Brigitte,
Rauscher Helmuth,
Ritschka Leopold,
Zwick Hartmut
Publication year - 1992
Publication title -
cancer
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 3.052
H-Index - 304
eISSN - 1097-0142
pISSN - 0008-543X
DOI - 10.1002/1097-0142(19921101)70:9<2278::aid-cncr2820700911>3.0.co;2-t
Subject(s) - medicine , brush , biopsy , bronchoscopy , radiology , fluoroscopy , forceps , lung cancer , diagnostic accuracy , lung , surgery , pathology , electrical engineering , engineering
Background . Bronchoscopic investigations of lung tumors require high diagnostic accuracy. Sometimes the combination of brush biopsy with cytologic and histologic examination of forceps‐obtained biopsy specimens fails to diagnose tumors. Techniques with a minimum risk and low cost when repeated several times could increase the efficiency of tumor diagnosis and help to avoid rebronchoscopy. Methods . Repeated brush biopsies were done during one bronchoscopic examination in 270 patients with pulmonary neoplasias using a flexible fiberoptic bron‐choscope guided by radiographic video fluoroscopy. The results of up to five brush biopsies were compared for their diagnostic sensitivity. Results . Singly, 68‐77% of the specimens showed malignant findings. With repeated brushing, the sensitivity of the diagnostic accuracy increased to 89.6%. In the periphery of the bronchial tree, the sensitivity of brush biopsy was slightly lower in bronchoscopically invisible tumors. In 222 of 242 (91.7%) patients with positive results of brush biopsy, there was agreement in the final typing of tumor morphology. Conclusion . For routine bronchoscopy, repeated brush biopsy should be done to obtain the highest diagnostic yield. Cancer 1992; 70:2278‐2280.