Radial probe endobronchial ultrasound-guided transbronchial lung biopsy for the diagnosis of cavitary peripheral pulmonary lesions

Background Cavitary peripheral pulmonary lesions (PPLs) are often diagnosed via transthoracic needle biopsy. However, today, radial probe endobronchial ultrasound (RP-EBUS) is widely used to diagnose PPLs. The efficacy and safety of RP-EBUS-guided transbronchial lung biopsy (RP-EBUS-TBLB) used to diagnose cavitary PPLs remain poorly known. We investigated the utility of RP-EBUS-TBLB using a guide sheath (GS) without fluoroscopy to diagnose PPLs. Methods Of 743 RP-EBUS procedures conducted to diagnose PPLs performed at our institution from January 2019 to October 2020, we analyzed 77 cavitary PPLs. TBLB was performed using RP-EBUS with a GS without fluoroscopy. The diagnostic accuracy and complications were assessed. All lung lesions with a definitive diagnosis were included in analyses. Results The overall diagnostic accuracy was 85.7% (66/77). Of malignant lesions (n = 34), 29 (85.3%) were diagnosed successfully. Of benign lesions (n = 43), 37 (86.0%) were diagnosed successfully. In multivariate analyses, a thicker cavity wall (>= 10 mm, odds ratio [OR] 14.22, 95% confidence interval [CI] 2.58-78.35, p = 0.002) and EBUS imaging with the probe within the lesion (OR 12.02, 95% CI 1.91-75.53, p = 0.008) independently affected diagnostic success. The likelihood of success increased with increasing thickness of the cavity wall (p < 0.001, test for trend). The specimens obtained for molecular confirmation of malignancy were satisfactory. There were four cases of infection (5.2%) and three cases of pneumothorax (3.9%). Conclusions RP-EBUS-TBLB of cavitary PPLs affords high diagnostic accuracy with acceptable complication rates.