• Tejaswi R Nadig, Nina Thomas, Paul J Nietert, Jessica Lozier, Nichole T Tanner, Wang MemoliJessica SJSDivision of Pulmonary, Critical Care and Respiratory Services, Medstar Washington Hospital Center, Washington, DC., Nicholas J Pastis, and Gerard A Silvestri.
• Division of Pulmonary, Critical Care, Allergy & Sleep Medicine, MUSC, Charleston, SC.
• Chest. 2023 Jun 1; 163 (6): 158915981589-1598.

BackgroundGuided bronchoscopy is increasingly used to diagnose peripheral pulmonary lesions (PPLs). A meta-analysis published in 2012 demonstrated a pooled diagnostic yield of 70%; however, recent publications have documented yields as low as 40% and as high as 90%.Research QuestionHas the diagnostic yield of guided bronchoscopy in patients with PPLs improved over the past decade?Study Design And MethodsA comprehensive search was performed of studies evaluating the diagnostic yield of differing bronchoscopic technologies used to reach PPLs. Study quality was assessed using the Quality assessment of diagnostic accuracy of studies (QUADAS-2) assessment tool. Number of lesions, type of technology used, overall diagnostic yield, and yield by size were extracted. Adverse events were recorded. Meta-analytic techniques were used to summarize findings across all studies.ResultsA total of 16,389 lesions from 126 studies were included. There was no significant difference in diagnostic yield prior to 2012 (39 studies; 3,052 lesions; yield 70.5%) vs after 2012 (87 studies; 13,535 lesions; yield 69.2%) (P > .05). Additionally, there was no significant difference in yield when comparing different technologies. Studies with low risk of overall bias had a lower diagnostic yield than those with high risk of bias (66% vs 71%, respectively; P = .018). Lesion size > 2 cm, presence of bronchus sign, and reports with a high prevalence of malignancy in the study population were associated with significantly higher diagnostic yield. Significant (P < .0001) between-study heterogeneity was also noted.InterpretationDespite the reported advances in bronchoscopic technology to diagnose PPLs, the diagnostic yield of guided bronchoscopy has not improved.Copyright © 2023 American College of Chest Physicians. All rights reserved.

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