Computed Tomography-Bronchoscopic Simulation for Guiding Transbronchial Fine Needle Aspiration of Extramural Targets: A Phantom Study

Abstract

CT-bronchoscopic simulation significantly increased hit rate of bronchoscopic punctures of extramural lesions compared with conventional orientation using axial CT-sections in this phantom study. These results suggest that CT-bronchoscopic simulation might be a valuable tool for increasing yield and accuracy of bronchoscopic transbronchial fine needle aspiration in patients with mediastinal and hilar masses that are invisible for conventional bronchoscopy.

CT Bronchoscopic Simulation for Guiding Transbronchial Needle Aspiration of Extramural Mediastinal and Hilar Lesions: Initial Clinical Results

“…This effect was independent of lesion size and location. These results are in keeping with results in a previous study in a phantom (28). Previous work with a similar purpose was performed by McAdams et al (26).…”

“…Hit rates of 35% (42 of 120 lesions) and 33% (six of 18 lesions) were reported for bronchoscopically occult lesions (18,21). Several approaches, such as endobronchial ultrasonography (US) or esophageal US, electromagnetic navigation, and virtual CT bronchoscopic guidance have been used to improve the yield of endoscopic sampling (22)(23)(24)(25)(26)(27)(28) of occult mediastinal and hilar lesions.…”