Diagnostic performance of Shape-Sensing Robotic-Assisted bronchoscopy with mobile Cone-Beam CT for cystic and cavitary pulmonary lesions

Abstract

Introduction

Cystic and cavitary pulmonary lesions (PLs) frequently require histologic confirmation for an accurate diagnosis. Shape-sensing robotic-assisted bronchoscopy (ssRAB) with mobile cone beam computed tomography (mCBCT) offers a minimally invasive alternative to traditional biopsy techniques like CT-guided transthoracic biopsy. This study aimed to evaluate the diagnostic performance and safety of ssRAB in cystic and cavitary PLs.

Material and Methods

A retrospective study was conducted at Mayo Clinic Florida, of patients who underwent ssRAB with mCBCT for cavitary and cystic PLs from October 2020 to February 2024. Baseline clinical, demographic, lesion characteristics, and procedure-related data were collected. Diagnostic yield, accuracy, sensitivity for malignancy and complication rates were calculated while logistic models identified associations between variables and diagnostic yield.

Results

52 patients were included, 54 nodules were sampled. ssRAB provided a diagnostic yield of 83 % and a diagnostic accuracy of 83 %, with a sensitivity for malignancy of 97 % and specificity of 58 %. Pneumothorax occurred in 4 % of cases, with one requiring chest tube insertion. Nashville bleeding scale ≥ 2 occurred in 4 % of procedures. There was no significant association between lesion size, distance to chest wall, type of lesion and diagnostic yield.

Conclusion

ssRAB with mCBCT demonstrated high diagnostic yield and sensitivity for malignancy in cavitary and cystic PLs, with a low complication rate. Its ability to perform mediastinal staging in the same anesthetic event, along with its safety profile, suggests ssRAB as a valuable tool in the assessment of air-filled pulmonary lesions.