Peripheral transbronchial needle aspiration-guided pinpoint cryobiopsy of lung nodule without bronchus sign: A case report

Respir Investig. 2023 Jul;61(4):473-477. doi: 10.1016/j.resinv.2023.04.003. Epub 2023 May 12.

Abstract

Peripheral transbronchial needle aspiration (pTBNA) allows the access of pulmonary nodules without bronchus sign but is limited to cytological examination. A 39-year-old man with left parotid carcinoma presented with an incidental lung nodule. Target localisation was performed with manual airway mapping, virtual bronchoscopic navigation, and pTBNA. Direct target validation using radial endobronchial ultrasound (rEBUS) was performed through the puncture defect. Targeted pinpoint biopsy with a 1.1 mm cryoprobe through the pTBNA puncture defect confirmed metastatic adenoid cystic carcinoma. Guided pTBNA with rEBUS validation followed by cryobiopsy of lung nodules without bronchus sign is potentially feasible for histological and molecular analyses.

Keywords: Bronchus sign; Cryobiopsy; Lung nodule; Peripheral transbronchial needle aspiration.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Biopsy, Fine-Needle
  • Bronchi / diagnostic imaging
  • Bronchi / pathology
  • Bronchoscopy*
  • Humans
  • Lung / diagnostic imaging
  • Lung / pathology
  • Lung Neoplasms* / pathology
  • Male