Transbronchial biopsy using forceps (TBB) is the first diagnostic technique performed on patients with interstitial lung disease (ILD). However, the small size of the samples and the presence of artefacts in the tissue obtained make the yield variable.Our objectives were 1) to attempt to reproduce transbronchial cryobiopsy under the same conditions with which we performed conventional TBB, that is, in the bronchoscopy unit without intubating the patient and without fluoroscopy or general anaesthesia; 2) to describe the method used for its execution; and 3) to analyse the diagnostic yield and its complications.We carried out a prospective study that included 106 patients with clinical and radiological features suggestive of ILD who underwent cryo-transbronchial lung biopsy (cryo-TBB) under moderate sedation without endotracheal intubation, general anaesthesia or use of fluoroscopy. We performed the procedure using two flexible bronchoscopes connected to two video processors, which we alternated until obtaining the number of desired samples.A definitive diagnosis was obtained in 91 patients (86%). As for complications, there were five pneumothoraces (4.7%) and in no case was there severe haemorrhage or exacerbation of the underlying interstitial disease. Cryo-TBB following our method is a minimally invasive, rapid, safe and economic technique that can be performed in a bronchoscopy suite under moderate sedation without the need for intubating the patient or using fluoroscopy and without requiring general anaesthesia.
<b><i>Introduction:</i></b> The Sydney system proposal for the study and reporting of lymphadenopathy by fine-needle aspiration (FNA) constitutes one of the first attempts to standardize this procedure. Here, we review its applicability. <b><i>Materials and Methods:</i></b> A retrospective study in which all ultrasound-guided FNAs (USFNAs) of superficial lymphadenopathy (palpable or not) performed by interventional pathologists in 2 specialized hospital centers were quantified over 2 years. The procedure was systematized, and the diagnoses were reclassified according to the Sydney system categories. <b><i>Results:</i></b> We analyzed 363 USFNAs of lymphadenopathies. The distribution of cases by categories was as follows: insufficient (<i>n</i> = 13; 3.58%), benign (<i>n</i> = 208; 57.30%), atypia of uncertain significance (<i>n</i> = 7; 1.93%), suspicious (<i>n</i> = 21; 5.79), and malignant (<i>n</i> = 114; 31.40%). The risks of malignancy calculated for categories I, II, III, IV, and V were 27%, 3%, 50%, 100%, and 100%, respectively. <b><i>Conclusion:</i></b> The implementation of the Sydney system allows the systematization and standardization of the lymph node FNA methodology, with increased efficacy and efficiency. Assimilating the recommendations enables the qualification of the diagnostic procedure.
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