TY - JOUR T1 - Visible tumour on bronchoscopy: Do we need cytology? JF - European Respiratory Journal JO - Eur Respir J VL - 42 IS - Suppl 57 SP - P5085 AU - Muhammad Naeem AU - Raja Reddy Y1 - 2013/09/01 UR - http://erj.ersjournals.com/content/42/Suppl_57/P5085.abstract N2 - Introduction:Flexible bronchoscopy has a important role in diagnosing lung cancer. Where tumor is visible on bronchoscopy, it is common practice to carry out the full complement of Forceps biopsies, washings and brushings to enable histological/cytological diagnosis1, 2.The aim of this retrospective study was to determine whether routine collection of cytology samples (washings & brushings) increase the diagnostic yield as compared to biopsy alone in cases where adequate biopsies (at least five) of bronchoscopically visible tumor were obtained.Method:We reviewed consecutive series of 278 bronchoscopies in which biopsies were done during period of 5 years from 2008 to 2012. A total of 148 bronchoscopies met the criteria of bronchoscopically visible tumor and in 145 of these the bronchoscopist felt adequate biopsies were obtained. All these patients also had washings and brushings carried out.Results:In the 145 cases where adequate biopsies were obtained, overall diagnostic yield was 99.3%. Histology was positive in 144 cases whereas cytology was positive in 98. Both were negative in one patient.View this table:Table 1: Diagnostic yield of sampling methodConclusion:Additional cytology specimens didn’t add to the diagnostic yield in bronchoscopically visible tumors where adequate biopsies were obtained. Omitting routine cytological sampling could yield significant cost savings as well as reducing bronchoscopy time.References:1. Dobler CC, Crawford AB. Bronchoscopic diagnosis of endoscopically visible lung malignancies: should cytological examinations be carried out routinely? Intern Med J. 2009 Dec;39(12):806-11. ER -