Radial endobronchial ultrasound-guided transbronchial biopsy for peripheral pulmonary malignancy: biopsy- or brushing-first?

BACKGROUND: Radial endobronchial ultrasound (R-EBUS)-guided transbronchial biopsy (TBB) is a common diagnostic modality for peripheral pulmonary lesions; however, there is uncertainty about the optimal sequence of TBB and bronchial brushing during the procedure. Thus, we aimed to investigate whether a biopsy-first or brushing-first strategy confers a better diagnostic yield and safety signal for R-EBUS-guided procedures for peripheral pulmonary malignancy. METHODS: From January 2017 to June 2018, consecutive patients referred for R-EBUS-guided TBB and bronchial brushing of peripheral pulmonary lesions and with a final malignant diagnosis were included. Patients were placed in a biopsy-first (biopsy followed by brushing) or a brushing-first (brushing followed by biopsy) group. The outcomes of interest were the diagnostic yield and complication profile of the procedures. Multivariate logistic regression and subgroup analysis were used to assess the impact of the procedure strategy. RESULTS: A total of 438 patients were included and the diagnostic yield of R-EBUS-guided TBB plus brushing for peripheral pulmonary malignancy was 73%. The diagnostic yield was associated with the solid lesion appearance (odds ratio [OR] 2.01; 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.08–3.75) and R-EBUS probe position within the lesion (OR 1.92; 95% CI 1.08–3.42), and the yield rates were comparable between the biopsy-first and brushing-first strategies. Moreover, the safety signal did not differ between the two groups. CONCLUSIONS: The two procedure strategies were indistinguishable in terms of diagnostic efficacy and adverse events for patients with peripheral pulmonary malignancy. Current evidence indicates that in patients with peripheral pulmonary lesions suspected of being malignant, either biopsy-first or brushing-first is a viable and acceptable diagnostic strategy during R-EBUS-guided procedures.