Lung "holes" after cryobiopsy: a case report

BMC Pulm Med. 2021 Aug 23;21(1):274. doi: 10.1186/s12890-021-01640-1.

Abstract

Background: Transbronchial lung cryobiopsy is a safe technique increasingly used in the study of lung diseases. Until now, only a case of pneumatocele was described but this interesting condition is probably underestimated because CT scan is routinely not performed after transbronchial lung cryobiopsies.

Case presentation: We report a case of a woman presenting two pneumatoceles after lung cryobiopsies performed for the study of an interstitial lung disease. The finding was obtained with a CT scan performed because of the appearance of hemoptysis, four days after the biopsies.

Conclusions: Small cavitations could develop after cryobiopsies in the absence of an active infection. Studies that prospectively perform CT scan of the chest in patients who have undergone these samplings could be useful to know the incidence of iatrogenic lesions.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Biopsy / adverse effects
  • Bronchi / pathology
  • Cryosurgery / adverse effects*
  • Female
  • Hemoptysis / diagnostic imaging*
  • Hemoptysis / etiology*
  • Humans
  • Lung / pathology
  • Lung Diseases, Interstitial / pathology*
  • Middle Aged
  • Tomography, X-Ray Computed