title: CT-guided ultrathin bronchoscopy: bioptic approach and factors in predicting diagnosis.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The diagnostic sensitivity of current bronchoscopy for peripheral lung cancer is inadequate because the bronchoscope insertion range is limited and confirmation of the position of the biopsy apparatus at the lesion under X-ray fluoroscopy is inaccurate. The combination of ultrathin bronchoscopy and computed tomography (CT) is effective for solving these problems.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  This study was a retrospective study analyzing prospectively collected data to identify factors contributing to the diagnosis and the appropriate biopsy method in CT-guided ultrathin bronchoscopy for peripheral lung cancer.
  
  
  METHODS
  The subjects comprised 86 patients (88 lesions) who underwent CT-guided ultrathin bronchoscopy and were finally diagnosed with peripheral lung cancer. We evaluated the diagnostic yield according to specific factors and also according to the sample collection method.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Sixty-nine lesions were diagnosed as lung cancer, and the diagnostic yield was 78.4% (80.3% in lesions ≤2 cm in diameter). Multivariate analysis showed that the factors contributing to the diagnosis were the observation range by ultrathin bronchoscopy and the presence/absence of the involved bronchus or pulmonary artery. Pathological evaluation facilitated histological diagnoses in 53 (65.4%) of 81 lesions. In 16 lesions, only the cytological diagnosis was positive.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  CT-guided ultrathin bronchoscopy may be particularly useful for lesions for which the involved bronchus or pulmonary artery can be confirmed, and observation of bronchi of the 6th generation or more is possible. Since the specimen preparation rate is low, the combination of histopathological diagnosis with cytological diagnosis particularly that of the discharge attached to the forceps, is optimal.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, National Health Insurance Sekigahara Hospital, Japan.
authors.forename: Yoshihiko
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Matsuno
authors.forename: Fumihiro
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Asano
authors.forename: Joe
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Shindoh
authors.forename: Takashi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Abe
authors.forename: Akira
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Shiraki
authors.forename: Morihide
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ando
authors.forename: Toshitaka
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Suzuki
authors.forename: Akira
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Seko
authors.forename: Hisataka
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Moriwaki
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001706:Biopsy; D020680:Bronchoscopes; D001999:Bronchoscopy / Q000379:methods*; D003581:Cytodiagnosis; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed