Old meets modern: the use of traditional cryoprobes in the age of molecular biology.
BACKGROUND
Endobronchial forceps biopsies are often small and are associated with a relevant extent of artifacts. To overcome these limitations is an important task. Especially when considering predictive factors for pharmacological therapies of lung cancer (ERCC1, RRM1) a development of biopsy techniques seems to be essential. This is the first report on a new endobronchial biopsy technique called cryobiopsy.


OBJECTIVE
In this study the feasibility and the potential advantages of applying cryoprobes for harvesting samples for histological examination in flexible bronchoscopies will be focused on.


METHODS
In 12 patients suffering from exophytic endobronchial malignancies, a modified flexible cryoprobe was used for immediate recanalization. The extracted tissue was examined histologically regarding sample quality and sample size.


RESULTS
Tissue samples obtained using the cryoprobe showed an extraordinary good quality in terms of size (median diameter of 6.7 mm, range 4.2-13 mm) and artifact-free sample area (75% of the samples showed an artifact-free sample area of more than 75%). Additionally molecular markers were shown to be well preserved.


CONCLUSIONS
The new technique termed cryobiopsy might widen the chest physician's range of tools for diagnostic bronchoscopies.
Hetzel
Jurgen
J
Department of Internal Medicine II, Division of Pulmonary Medicine, University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany. juergen.hetzel@med.uni-tuebingen.de
Hetzel
Martin
M
Hasel
Cornelia
C
Moeller
Peter
P
Babiak
Alexander
A
D015415:Biomarkers / Q000032:analysis; D001706:Biopsy / Q000379:methods; D001980:Bronchi / Q000473:pathology*; D001984:Bronchial Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology*; D001999:Bronchoscopy; D002277:Carcinoma / Q000473:pathology*; D003452:Cryosurgery / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology*
D015415:Biomarkers