Comparison of virtual and fiberoptic bronchoscopy in the management of airway stenosis.
Noninvasive imaging methods can be valuable tools for diagnosing thoracic diseases, especially malignancies. The aim of this study was to compare the effectiveness of conventional and virtual bronchoscopy in the follow-up of patients with large airway stenosis. Twenty-three consecutive patients with stenoses of the trachea and/or the main bronchi were enrolled in this prospective observer study. The causes of stenosis included malignant or benign tumours, goiter, and postintubation stenoses. Patients were evaluated before and after treatment (which included mechanical dilation, laser photocoagulation, stent implantation, radiotherapy, chemotherapy, and surgical resection). The mean time between baseline and follow-up endoscopy was 140 days. No significant differences were observed between the estimated and measured data from bronchofibroscopy and virtual bronchoscopy. Exact measurement of stenoses was performed with virtual bronchoscopy.
III Pulmonology, Pest County Hospital, Pest Megye, Törökbálint, Hungary. markzs@t-online.hu
Zsuzsa
Z
Mark
Gabor
G
Bajzik
Andrea
A
Nagy
Peter
P
Bogner
Imre
I
Repa
Janos
J
Strausz
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000402:Airway Obstruction / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy*; D001999:Bronchoscopy / Q000379:methods*; D004358:Drug Therapy; D005260:Female; D005336:Fiber Optic Technology; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008028:Light Coagulation; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011878:Radiotherapy; D015607:Stents; D014135:Tracheal Stenosis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy*; D014584:User-Computer Interface