Is conventional transbronchial lung biopsy out: The evaluation of clinical value in diffuse parenchymal lung disease

Conclusion that conventional TBLB served as a key determinant or provided supplementary information in the final diagnosis of non-infectious diffuse parenchymal lung diseases (DPLDs). TBLB decision-making should therefore be based on clinical and radiological data. AbstractIntroductionTransbronchial lung biopsy (TBLB) is a relatively safe technique routinely employed by pulmonologists for the diagnosis of diffuse parenchymal lung disease (DPLD). Cryobiopsy is associated with higher diagnostic yield and a favorable risk/benefit ratio. Nevertheless, TBLB remains the representative method for definite diagnosis in developing countries.ObjectivesThis study aimed to evaluate whether the results obtained from TBLB had clinical value to pulmonologists in the management of DPLD.MethodsWe performed a retrospective analysis of patients who underwent conventional TBLB for the diagnosis of DPLD from May 1, 2017, to April 30, 2019, at the Beijing Chao-yang Hospital, Capital Medical University. The clinical value of TBLB was defined as leading to a specific histopathological diagnosis or being consistent with the clinical and radiological data.ResultsSeven hundred and forty-three patients with suspected DPLD were recruited. Conventional TBLB was considered clinically valuable in 439 procedures (59.1%), including 360 cases provided with definitive histopathological diagnoses, and 79 cases that were consistent with the working diagnoses. Among the 439 cases of clinically valuable TBLBs, 88 (...
Source: The Clinical Respiratory Journal - Category: Respiratory Medicine Authors: Tags: ORIGINAL ARTICLE Source Type: research