Open AccessRadial‐EBUS and virtual bronchoscopy planner for peripheral lung cancer diagnosis: How it became the first‐line endoscopic procedure
Author(s) -
Lachkar Samy,
Perrot Loic,
Gervereau Diane,
De Marchi Marielle,
Morisse Pradier Helene,
Dantoing Edouard,
Piton Nicolas,
Thiberville Luc,
Guisier Florian,
Salaün Mathieu
Publication year - 2022
Publication title -
thoracic cancer
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.823
H-Index - 28
eISSN - 1759-7714
pISSN - 1759-7706
DOI - 10.1111/1759-7714.14629
Subject(s) - medicine , bronchoscopy , lung cancer , radiology , retrospective cohort study , bronchus , peripheral , lung , surgery , respiratory disease
Background Various advanced bronchoscopy methods have been developed to reach peripheral lung lesions (PLL). In a large cohort, we aimed to assess a standardized procedure of first‐line radial‐endobronchial ultrasound (r‐EBUS) and virtual bronchoscopy planner for the diagnosis of peripheral lung cancer. Methods This retrospective, single center study included patients who had r‐EBUS‐guided bronchoscopy for the diagnosis of a PLL between 2008 and 2019. Cases without a final diagnosis of cancer or follow‐up were excluded. Results Between 2008 and 2019, 2735 patients had a r‐EBUS procedure, among whom 1627 had a final diagnosis of cancer and were included in the present study. Over the 12‐year study period, r‐EBUS became the first‐line endoscopic procedure to assess PLL (25% as first‐line bronchoscopy in 2008 vs. 92% in 2019). The frequency of the bronchus sign decreased from 2009 to 2019 (100% to 80%; p = 0.001), whereas US visualization of the lesion remained stable (88%). The median number of biopsies increased from two (2008 to 2014) to four (2015 to 2019) ( p < 0.0001), with the same diagnostic efficiency (74% total and 80% when a bronchus sign was present). Of the 651 adenocarcinomas, molecular analysis was possible in 86%. PD‐L1 expression analysis was possible in 81% of cases. During the study period, the lifetime of the radial probe increased from 57 procedures to 77 procedures/probe. Conclusion Because r‐EBUS and VB planner is easy to perform under local anesthesia, inexpensive and efficient it can be used as a first‐line procedure to assess peripheral lung cancer.