Electromagnetic navigation bronchoscopy transbronchial lung nodule ablation with Illumisite(TM) platform corrects CT-to-body divergence with tomosynthesis and improves ablation workflow: a case report

BACKGROUND: Transbronchial ablation of lung nodules is gaining popularity as part of lung-preserving strategy for patients with multifocal lung cancers or multiple lung oligometastases. Accuracy in placement of ablation catheter is of utmost importance in order to achieve adequate ablation margin. However, older systems are not precise enough for confident placement of ablation catheter and often require multiple cone-beam CT (CBCT) to confirm and readjust its position. The following case is the first microwave lung ablation utilizing the novel Illumisite(TM) platform (Medtronic, Minneapolis, MN, USA) in the hybrid operating room (HOR), with enhanced accuracy and workflow. CASE DESCRIPTION: A 66-year-old lady had multiple resected adenocarcinomas in bilateral lungs. Upon CT monitoring a right middle lobe (RML) ground glass opacity with solid centre was found to be suspicious due to increasing size and density. Transbronchial electromagnetic navigation bronchoscopy (ENB) microwave ablation of the lesion was performed as part of lung-conserving strategy. After initial navigation, the adjusted nodule position provided by the IllumisiteTM platform after correcting the CT-to-body divergence prompted operators to renavigate and readjust the position of the locatable guide (LG) swiftly to gain accurate access to the nodule, which was confirmed by CBCT. Positional data at the tip of extended working channel (EWC) also allowed precise placement of needle for subsequent ablation. CONCLUSIONS: Illumisite(TM) is a novel electromagnetic navigational platform that corrects for CT-to-body divergence and ensures continuous locational information by an additional positional coil in the tip of EWC. This precision is especially important for the placement of ablation catheter, as slight deviation would lead to insufficient ablation margin and future recurrence. Workflow is improved by reducing the number of CBCT required for instrument position adjustment.