title: Relation between vascular patterns visualized by Narrow Band Imaging (NBI) videobronchoscopy and histological type of lung cancer.
abstract: Narrow Band Imaging (NBI) videobronchoscopy is a new technique for visualization of microvascular changes in bronchial mucosa. The primary aim of this study was to evaluate relation between vascular patterns visualized by NBI and histology of lung cancer. We prospectively evaluated 65 patients with suspected lung cancer scheduled for bronchoscopy. NBI followed conventional WL videobronchoscopy. After identification of endoscopically visible tumor, NBI was used to determine predominant type of pathological vascular pattern (dotted, tortuous, abrupt-ending blood vessels-Shibuya descriptors). All the lesions were biopsied and histologically confirmed. There were 81.5 % male and 18.5 % female patients evaluated in the study. Lung cancer was confirmed in all patients; 63.1 % were diagnosed with squamous cell lung cancer (SCC), 24.6 % had adenocarcinoma, 9.2 % had small-cell (SCLC) and 3.1 % large-cell lung cancer (LC). Dotted blood vessels were significantly (p < 0.000) associated with adenocarcinoma, identified in 68.4 % adenocarcinoma and 31.6 % SCC. Tortuous blood vessels were identified in 72 % SCC, 8 % adenocarcinoma, 12 % SCLC and 8 % of LC. Tortuous blood vessels were significantly (p < 0.000) associated with SCC. Abrupt-ending vessels were identified in 81 % SCC, 14.3 % SCLC and 4.8 % adenocarcinoma and were significantly associated (p < 0.000) with SCC. Dotted visual pattern of blood vessels identified during NBI videobronchoscopy is highly suggesting adenocarcinoma histology of lung cancer. Tortuous and abrupt-ending blood vessels visualized under NBI videobronchoscopy significantly suggest squamous cell histology of lung cancer. Large-scale studies should be designed in order to determine true relation between visual appearance and histology in lung cancer.
authors.affiliation: Department for Interventional Pulmonology, Faculty of Medicine, Institute for Pulmonary Diseases of Vojvodina, Clinic for Pulmonary Oncology, University of Novi Sad, Put doktora Goldmana 4, 21204 Sremska Kamenica, Serbia. bojanzaric@neobee.net
authors.forename: Bojan
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Zaric
authors.forename: Branislav
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Perin
authors.forename: Vladimir
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Stojsic
authors.forename: Vladimir
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Carapic
authors.forename: Zivka
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Eri
authors.forename: Milana
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Panjkovic
authors.forename: Ilija
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Andrijevic
authors.forename: Jovan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Matijasevic
mesh_terms: D001999:Bronchoscopy / Q000379:methods*; D018287:Carcinoma, Large Cell / Q000098:blood supply / Q000473:pathology; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000098:blood supply / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000098:blood supply / Q000473:pathology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D062048:Narrow Band Imaging / Q000379:methods*; D055752:Small Cell Lung Carcinoma / Q000098:blood supply / Q000473:pathology; D014741:Video Recording