Diagnostic Yield of Fluoroscopy-Guided Transbronchial Lung Biopsy in Non-Endobronchial Lung Lesion
Warangkana Rittirak MD*, Suree Sompradeekul MD*
Affiliation : * Division of Respiratory Disease and Tuberculosis, Department of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine Siriraj Hospital, Mahidol University
Background : Parenchymatous lung lesions often present as peripheral non-endobronchial lesions, which are
not visible through conventional flexible fiberoptic bronchoscopy. Tissue diagnosis from these lesions is
usually obtained by transbronchial lung biopsy (TBLB). The lesion location is estimated by chest radiograph
(CXR) or computerized tomography (CT) of the chest. The diagnostic yield of TBLB is limited and variable,
ranging from 16-80%. Fluoroscopy is used simultaneously with FOB during TBLB for better localization of
parenchymatous lesions. Nevertheless, fluoroscopy-guided transbronchial biopsy (Flu-TBLB) is not widely
used at present. The advantages and safety of Flu-TBLB have not yet been verified.
Objective : To compare the diagnostic yields and complications of TBLB with and without fluoroscopy guid-
ance for non-endobronchial lung lesion.
Study
Design : Descriptive study with subgroup analysis
Materials and Methods : Medical and bronchoscopic data records of patients who underwent TBLB at Siriraj
Hospital from January 2001 to June 2005 were reviewed. The patients were divided into two groups accord-
ing to the use of fluoroscopy during TBLB. Patient demographic data, underlying diseases, CXR findings,
diagnoses, complications and yields of TBLB of the two groups were compared.
Statistical analysis: Student t-test and chi-square test
Results : Six hundred and fifty patients were included in the present study. Three hundred and thirty-one
patients were in Flu-TBLB group, 319 patients were in non fluoroscopy-guided transbronchial biopsy (NFlu-
TBLB) group. The overall diagnostic yield of Flu-TBLB group was statistically significantly higher than
NFlu-TBLB group (43.8% vs. 32.9%; p = 0.003). When comparing the diagnostic yields of the 2 groups by
CXR findings, the yields of Flu-TBLB group were statistically significantly higher than NFlu-TBLB group for
lung masses (41.4% vs. 29.5%; p = 0.036) and focal infiltrative lesions (46.2% vs. 29.4%; p = 0.008),
respectively. The yield of Flu-TBLB group was slightly higher than NFlu-TBLB group for diffuse infiltrative
lesion (45.1% vs. 40%; p = 0.289). No significant difference in the rate of pneumothorax discovery between
the two groups (1.2% in Flu-TBLB group and 0.6% in NFlu-TBLB group) was observed.
Conclusion : Flu-TBLB significantly increases the diagnostic yields of non-endobronchial lung masses and
focal infiltrates compared to NFlu-TBLB. There is no clinical significant difference in the rate of pneumotho-
rax discovery between the two groups. Flu-TBLB is also more cost-saving.
Keywords : Fluoroscopy, Transbronchial, Biopsy,
