‘Bronchoscopic Characterization of Lesions’: Significant impact on lung cancer diagnosis with use of Transbronchial needle aspiration (TBNA) in Comparison to conventional diagnostic techniques (CDTs)

Background: Lung Cancer is the leading cause of cancer deaths around the world. Lung cancer accounts for 13.8% of all cancer diagnosis in India. Aims: (1) To find the role of bronchoscopic characterization of lesions and its impact on outcome in yield in lung cancer with use of conventional diagnostic techniques. (2) To observe additional yield of transbronchial needle aspiration (TBNA) in comparison to other conventional diagnostic techniques (CDTs) such as bronchial wash (BW), bronchial brush (BB), and forcep biopsy. Settings and Design: This is a prospective muticentric study conducted during June 2013–December 2016 at bronchoscopy unit of Venkatesh Chest Hospital Latur and Pulmonary Medicine, MIMSR Medical College Latur India. Materials and Methods: The study included 210 patients on the basis of clinical and radiological features of malignancy after inclusion and exclusion criteria and institutional review board approval. Fiberoptic bronchoscopic abnormalities were categorized as Exophytic endobronchial lesions, submucosal lesions, peribronchial lesions, and no abnormality. TBNA and other CDTs such as forcep biopsy, BB, and BW were performed during bronchoscopy procedure. Histopathological and cytological examinations of specimens were performed at pathology department. Statistical Analysis Used: The statistical analysis was done using Chi-square test. Results: In exophytic endobronchial lesions, yield of TBNA, CDTs, and TBNA plus CDTs was 62.60%, 79.67%, and 84.55%, respectively (P < 0.001). TBNA was found complementary to CDTs. TBNA has an additive yield in aiding diagnosis by 4.87%. In submucosal lesions, TBNA has low yield, i.e., 38.88% as compared to forcep biopsy, i.e., 47.22% in diagnosing lung malignancies. The additional diagnostic yield of other CDTs such as BB and BW has nil effect on yield difference over forcep biopsy (P > 0.8). In peribronchial lesions, TBNA has significant yield, i.e., 63.41% individually as compared to forcep biopsy 26.82% and CDT 39.02% (P < 0.001). Overall diagnostic yield of fiberoptic bronchoscopy in confirming the diagnosis was 71.95%. Conclusions: Bronchoscopic characterization of lesions and use of technique accordingly during bronchoscopy has a significant outcome in the form of yield also it will decrease the need for repeat bronchoscopy.