Is the diagnostic yield of mediastinal lymph node cryobiopsy (cryoEBUS) better for diagnosing mediastinal node involvement compared to endobronchial ultrasound-guided transbronchial needle aspiration (EBUS-TBNA)? A systematic review.

Introduction: New tools such as cryobiopsy of mediastinal lymph nodes (cryoEBUS) have been described to improve the diagnostic usefulness of endobronchial ultrasound-guided transbronchial needle aspiration (EBUS-TBNA). The literature suggests that this novel procedure could be associated with greater diagnostic usefulness than conventional EBUS-TBNA.

Methods: To develop a systematic analysis and meta-analysis on the diagnostic diagnostic yield and safety of cryobiopsy of hilar and mediastinal adenopathies compared to EBUS-TBNA.

Results from a Spanish national survey on the application of ultrasound in pulmonology services.

Background: This was an observational, cross-sectional, and multicentre study carried out from October to December 2020, through a survey sent to Spanish Society of Pulmonology and Thoracic Surgery members in public hospitals with different levels of complexity. Our objective was to complete a national analysis of clinical practice, organisation, infrastructure, the services portfolio, teaching, and research activity related to ultrasound.

Results: Data from 104 hospitals were analysed.

The role of bronchoscopy in patients with SARS-CoV-2 pneumonia.

Background: The role of bronchoscopy in coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a matter of debate.

Patients And Methods: This observational multicentre study aimed to analyse the prognostic impact of bronchoscopic findings in a consecutive cohort of patients with suspected or confirmed COVID-19. Patients were enrolled at 17 hospitals from February to June 2020.

Diagnostic Yield and Safety of Pleural Cryobiopsy during Medical Thoracoscopy to Diagnose Pleural Effusion. A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Objective: Current evidence on the diagnostic yield and safety of pleural cryobiopsy (CB) is based on a series of heterogeneous studies with limited cohorts. A pooled analysis of these studies could improve the evidence and contribute to a better understanding of this new technique.

Methodology: We performed a systematic review and meta-analysis of published studies that included data on the yield and diagnostic safety of pleural CB compared with procedures performed using conventional flexible forceps.

Transbronchial biopsy results according to diffuse interstitial lung disease classification. Cryobiopsy versus forceps: MULTICRIO study.

Background: In recent years, transbronchial cryobiopsy (TBCB) has come to be increasingly used in interventional pulmonology units as it obtains larger and better-quality samples than conventional transbronchial lung biopsy (TBLB) with forceps. No multicenter studies have been performed, however, that analyse and compare TBCB and TBLB safety and yield according to the interstitial lung disease (ILD) classification.

Objectives: We compared the diagnostic yield and safety of TBCB with cryoprobe sampling versus conventional TBLB forceps sampling in the same patient.

Methylation Assessment for the Prediction of Malignancy in Mediastinal Adenopathies Obtained by Endobronchial Ultrasound-Guided Transbronchial Needle Aspiration in Patients with Lung Cancer.

The evaluation of mediastinal lymph nodes is critical for the correct staging of patients with lung cancer (LC). Endobronchial ultrasound-guided transbronchial needle aspiration (EBUS-TBNA) is a minimally invasive technique for mediastinal staging, though unfortunately lymph node micrometastasis is often missed by cytological analysis. The aim of this study was to evaluate the predictive capacity of methylation biomarkers and provide a classification rule for predicting malignancy in false negative EBUS-TBNA samples.

A Pseudo-Outbreak of Pseudomonas putida and Stenotrophomonas maltophilia in a Bronchoscopy Unit.

Background: Endoscopes represent the medical devices most commonly linked to health care-associated outbreaks and pseudo-outbreaks. Most of the recent outbreaks and pseudo-outbreaks have resulted from contaminated automated endoscope reprocessors (AER) or the use of damaged or malfunctioning bronchoscopes or contaminated equipment.

Objectives: We investigated a pseudo-outbreak of Pseudomonas putida and Stenotrophomonas maltophilia recovered from bronchial washing (BW) specimens obtained during bronchoscopy in a bronchoscopy unit.

Management of malignant pleural effusion by an indwelling pleural catheter: A cost-efficiency analysis.

Background: For patients that are expected to survive for longer, the risk of complications combined with the need for more vacuum drainage bottles have become barriers to the placement of indwelling pleural catheter (IPC), since these could increase costs.

Objetives: The objective of the current article is to determine the cost and efficiency of treating malignant pleural effusion (MPE) with IPC in Spanish hospitals.

Methods: We compared the cost associated with the use of IPC per outpatient and per inpatient.

Tumor, node and metastasis classification of lung cancer--M1a versus M1b--analysis of M descriptors and other prognostic factors.

Introduction: The current edition of the tumor, node and metastasis (TNM) classification of lung cancer (LC) divides the presence of metastasis (M1) into two categories: M1a and M1b, depending on its anatomical location. To assess this new classification, the survival and the M descriptors of LC patients with metastatic disease registered by the Bronchogenic Carcinoma Cooperative Group of the Spanish Society of Pneumology and Thoracic Surgery II (GCCB-S-II), were analyzed.

Methods: Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients, with M1a or M1b disease, included in the GCCB-S-II, from April 2009 to December 2010, staged in accordance with the prospective staging project protocol of the International Association for the Study of Lung Cancer (IASLC), and with complete TNM staging and follow-up data, were studied.

The contribution of cell blocks in the diagnosis of mediastinal masses and hilar adenopathy samples from echobronchoscopy.

Background: Cell block material from puncture can be obtained with endobronchial ultrasound-guided transbronchial needle aspiration (EBUS-TBNA) in many cases. The aim of this study was to analyse the value of additional information from cell blocks obtained with EBUS-TBNA samples from mediastinal and hilar lymph nodes and masses.

Methods: Review of pathology reports with a specific diagnosis obtained from EBUS-TBNA samples of mediastinal or hilar lesions, prospectively obtained over a two-year period.

Viability of lymph node samples obtained by echobronchoscopy in the study of epigenetic alterations in patients with lung cancer.

Introduction: The diagnosis of microscopic lymph node metastasis in lung cancer is challenging despite the constant advances in tumor staging. The analysis of the methylation status of certain genes in lymph node samples could improve the diagnostic capability of conventional cyto-histological methods. The aim of this study was to demonstrate the feasibility of methylation studies using cytological lymph node samples.

The Spanish Society of Pulmonology and Thoracic Surgery Lung Cancer Cooperative Group-II registry. A descriptive study.

Introduction And Objectives: The seventh edition of the TNM classification, together with undeniable advantages, has limitations. The International Association for the Study of Lung Cancer (IASLC) Staging Committee has designed an international prospective study to improve this classification. A group of thoracic surgeons and pulmonologists was established in the Spanish Society of Pulmonology and Thoracic Surgery (SEPAR) Oncology area, and created a registry of new lung cancer (LC) cases to participate in this project.

Intra- and interobserver agreement among bronchial endosonographers for the description of intrathoracic lymph nodes.

Several sonographic features observed by endobronchial ultrasonography have been suggested to be useful to predict malignancy in mediastinal lymph nodes. To evaluate agreement to describe sonographic features, 28 video images were evaluated twice by eight expert bronchoscopists. The observers reviewed each case for the presence of coagulation necrosis sign (CNS), central hilar structure (CHS), heterogeneity, distinct margin, round shape, size >1 cm and malignancy.

Intramural hematoma of the pulmonary artery and hemopneumomediastinum after endobronchial ultrasound-guided transbronchial needle aspiration.

Endobronchial ultrasound-guided transbronchial needle aspiration (EBUS-TBNA) is a safe and effective technique for the sampling of mediastinal and hilar adenopathies. We describe the first reported case of pulmonary artery intramural hematoma after EBUS-TBNA puncture of this artery. The complication was visualized by ultrasound and resolved spontaneously.

Multivariate study of predictive factors for clearly defined lung lesions without visible endobronchial lesions in transbronchial biopsy.

Background: Although the diagnostic validity and predictive factors for the diagnostic yield of transbronchial biopsy (TBB) of clearly defined pulmonary lesions with no visible endobronchial lesion have been analyzed in numerous studies, very few have used multivariate analysis techniques to evaluate the validity of TBB as a diagnostic tool or to analyze the independent influence of clearly dependent variables, such as the bronchus sign and lesion size.

Methods: We retrospectively analyzed all cases in which this type of lesion underwent TBB under fluoroscopic control between 2006 and 2008. The analyzed variables included lesion size, localization, the presence of the bronchus sign, and the final result obtained.

[Pulmonary tuberculosis associated to adalimumab: a study of 3 cases].

Tumour necrosis factor-alpha antagonist drugs represent a significant advance in the treatment of inflammatory diseases, such as rheumatoid arthritis, spondyloarthropathies, and intestinal inflammatory disease. The increase in tuberculosis with infliximab is known, but there is less data available that specifically associates tuberculosis with adalimumab. We present the cases of 2 patients with rheumatoid arthritis and one patient with ankylopoietic spondylitis on treatment with adalimumab, who developed pulmonary and disseminated tuberculosis despite following the screening and prophylaxis measures recommended in guidelines.