Open AccessConfocal Laser Endomicroscopy as a Guidance Tool for Transbronchial Lung Cryobiopsies in Interstitial Lung Disorder
Author(s) -
Lizzy Wijmans,
Peter I. Bonta,
Rita Rocha-Pinto,
Daniël M. de Bruin,
Paul Brinkman,
René E. Jonkers,
Joris J. T. H. Roelofs,
Venerino Poletti,
Juergen Hetzel,
Jouke T. Annema
Publication year - 2018
Publication title -
respiration
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.264
H-Index - 81
eISSN - 1423-0356
pISSN - 0025-7931
DOI - 10.1159/000493271
Subject(s) - medicine , endomicroscopy , lung , pneumothorax , interstitial lung disease , bronchoscopy , pathology , radiology , lung biopsy , biopsy , nuclear medicine , confocal , geometry , mathematics
Transbronchial cryobiopsy (TBCB) of the lung parenchyma is a minimally invasive alternative for surgical lung biopsy in interstitial lung disease (ILD) patients. Drawbacks are the nondiagnostic rate and complication risk of pneumothorax and bleeding. Fluoroscopy is the current guidance tool for TBCB, which is limited by 2D imaging and a radiation dose for the patient. Confocal laser endomicroscopy (CLE) is a high-resolution imaging technique that provides immediate feedback during bronchoscopy about the elastin fiber network of peripheral lung areas. Both the visceral pleura and fibrotic lung areas consist of elastin fibers and are therefore potentially detectable with CLE.