The role of rapid on site evaluation on touch imprint cytology and brushing during conventional bronchoscopy.

Background: The increase in immunohistochemical and molecular predictive tests in lung cancer requires new strategies for managing small samples taken during bronchoscopic procedures. The value of Rapid On Site Evaluation (ROSE) during conventional bronchoscopic procedures on endobronchial neoplasms in optimizing small biopsies and cytologlogical tissue specimens for diagnostic testing, and ancillary studies was evaluated.

Method: ROSE on touch imprint cytology (TIC) and brushing was performed on 690 consecutive cases of patients undergoing biopsies, using fiber optic bronchoscopy.