RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 Cryobiopsy increases the diagnostic yield of endobronchial biopsy: a multicentre trial
JF European Respiratory Journal
JO Eur Respir J
FD European Respiratory Society
SP 685
OP 690
DO 10.1183/09031936.00033011
VO 39
IS 3
A1 J. Hetzel
A1 R. Eberhardt
A1 F.J.F. Herth
A1 C. Petermann
A1 G. Reichle
A1 L. Freitag
A1 I. Dobbertin
A1 K.J. Franke
A1 F. Stanzel
A1 T. Beyer
A1 P. Möller
A1 P. Fritz
A1 G. Ott
A1 P.A. Schnabel
A1 H. Kastendieck
A1 W. Lang
A1 A.T. Morresi-Hauf
A1 M.N. Szyrach
A1 R. Muche
A1 P.L. Shah
A1 A. Babiak
A1 M. Hetzel
YR 2012
UL http://erj.ersjournals.com/content/39/3/685.abstract
AB Forceps, brushes or needles are currently the standard tools used during flexible bronchoscopy when diagnosing endobronchial malignancies. The new biopsy technique of cryobiopsy appears to provide better diagnostic samples. The aim of this study was to evaluate cryobiopsy over conventional endobronchial sampling. A total of 600 patients in eight centres with suspected endobronchial tumours were included in a prospective, randomised, single-blinded multicentre study. Patients were randomised to either sampling using forceps or the cryoprobe. After obtaining biopsy samples, a blinded histological evaluation was performed. According to the definitive clinical diagnosis, the diagnostic yield for malignancy was evaluated by a Chi-squared test. A total of 593 patients were randomised, of whom 563 had a final diagnosis of cancer. 281 patients were randomised to receive endobronchial biopsies using forceps and 282 had biopsies performed using a flexible cryoprobe. A definitive diagnosis was achieved in 85.1% of patients randomised to conventional forceps biopsy and 95.0% of patients who underwent cryobiopsy (p<0.001). Importantly, there was no difference in the incidence of significant bleeding. Endobronchial cryobiopsy is a safe technique with superior diagnostic yield in comparison with conventional forceps biopsy.