Evaluation of electromagnetic navigational bronchoscopic biopsy of lung lesions performed by a thoracic surgical service

Background With the increasing use of computed tomography scans for lung cancer screening and surveillance of other cancers, thoracic surgeons are being referred patients with lung lesions for biopsies. Electromagnetic navigational bronchoscopy-guided lung biopsy is a relatively new technique for bronchoscopic biopsy. Our objective was to evaluate the diagnostic yields and safety of electromagnetic navigational bronchoscopy-guided lung biopsy. Methods We conducted a retrospective review of patients who underwent an electromagnetic navigational bronchoscopy biopsy, performed by a thoracic surgical service, and evaluated its safety and diagnostic accuracy. Results In total, 110 patients (men 46, women 64) underwent electromagnetic navigational bronchoscopy sampling of pulmonary lesions (n = 121; median size 27 mm; interquartile range 17–37 mm). There was no procedure-related mortality. Pneumothorax requiring pigtail drainage occurred in 4 patients (3.5%). Ninety-three (76.9%) of the lesions were malignant. Eighty-seven (71.9%) of the 121 lesions had an accurate diagnosis. Accuracy increased with increased lesion size (P = .0578) with a yield of 50% for lesions <2 cm, increasing to 81% for lesions ≥2 cm. The lesions that demonstrated a positive “bronchus sign” had a yield of 87% (45/52) compared with 61% (42/69) in lesions with a negative “bronchus sign” (P = .0359). Conclusion Thoracic surgeons can perform electromagnetic navigational bronchoscopy safely, with minimal morbidity and with good diagnostic yields. Accuracy increases with the presence of a bronchus sign and increasing lesion size. Patients with larger tumors and the bronchus sign may be candidates for this approach to biopsy. Further work is required to define the role of electromagnetic navigational bronchoscopy in the diagnosis of pulmonary lesions.