[Frequency of cytological procedures in diagnostic bronchoscopy of peripheral pulmonary modules and masses].
BACKGROUND
The combination of forceps biopsy and cytological methods improves the yield in diagnostic bronchoscopy of peripheral lung cancer. Transbronchial catheter aspiration seems to be an underutilized cytological technique, which is valuable and minimally invasive. We inquired for the frequency of cytological procedures and the importance of transbronchial catheter aspiration in comparison to transbronchial needle aspiration and bronchial brushing.


METHODS
We sent questionnaires to 99 clinically practising and educating pulmonologists.


RESULTS
The response amounted to 69 %. Nearly 79 % of the pulmonologists usually combine forceps biopsy with cytological procedures. Instead of 51 % bronchial brushing, transbonchial catheter aspiration as well as needle aspiration is the most applied cytological technique by only 28 % of the interrogated physicians. 47 % of the investigators practise bronchial washing and 27 % practise core roll preparations as a rule.


CONCLUSIONS
Most of the specialized clinics in respiratory medicine in Germany add cytological methods to transbronchial forceps biopsy. This practice is pregnant with meaning because of a higher diagnostic yield while accuracy is likewise high. Unlike bronchial brushing transbronchial catheter aspiration and needle aspiration are underutilized for different reasons in spite of the fact, that these are the only procedures with a significant higher sensitivity in comparison to forceps biopsy.
Franke
K-J
KJ
Klinik für Pneumologie, Allergologie und Beatmungsmedizin, Klinik Ambrock, Hagen, Universität Witten/Herdecke. franke@klinik-ambrock.de
Nilius
G
G
Rühle
K-H
KH
D001706:Biopsy; D001707:Biopsy, Needle; D001999:Bronchoscopy / Q000379:methods*; D005858:Germany; D006801:Humans; D008171:Lung Diseases / Q000473:pathology*; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000469:parasitology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires