Current Opinion in Pulmonary Medicine最新文献

Purpose of review: Lung cancer screening by low-dose CT is an increasingly implemented preventive medicine tool. Screening for lung cancer is incomplete without addressing problematic tobacco use, the greatest modifiable risk factor in the development of lung cancer. This review describes recent work related to lung cancer screening and treatment of tobacco use in that context.

Recent findings: Implementation of lung cancer screening demonstrates socioeconomic disparities in terms of adherence to screening as well as likelihood of successful tobacco dependence treatment. Active tobacco dependence is a common comorbidity for patients undergoing lung cancer screening. The optimal implementation of tobacco dependence treatment in the context of lung cancer screening is still an area of active investigation.

Summary: Treatment of tobacco dependence at time of lung cancer screening is a major opportunity for clinicians to intervene to reduce the major modifiable risk factor for lung cancer, tobacco use. Providing comprehensive tobacco dependence treatment is most effective using combination pharmacologic and behavioral interventions. Practices providing comprehensive treatment will benefit from accurate documentation for billing and coding and supplementing with external resources such as state Quit Lines.

Purpose of review: The multitude of available platforms and imaging modalities for navigational bronchoscopy, in combination with the various sampling tools that can be used intra-procedurally, is complex. This review seeks to describe the recent developments in peripheral bronchoscopy in regards to navigation, imaging, and sampling target lesions in the pulmonary parenchyma.

Recent findings: Robotic assisted bronchoscopy has improved navigation to the peripheral airways for sampling of peripheral parenchymal lesions. These navigational platforms use innovative technology utilizing electromagnetic navigation and shape-sensing technology for guidance. The greatest improvement has been the stabilization of the robotic scope in the periphery to allow for accurate sampling. Despite improvements in these platforms, limitations of CT to body divergence continue to impact navigation to the lesion and therefore diagnostic yield of the procedure. Advanced intraprocedural imaging with cone beam CT or augmented fluoroscopy has been a recent focus to improve this area. Further, the adoption of newer sampling tools, such as cryobiopsy, offers the possibility of increased diagnostic yield.

Summary: The developments in advanced bronchoscopy will impact the role of biopsy in the diagnosis of peripheral pulmonary parenchymal lesions.

Purpose of review: Lung cancer is one of the most common malignancies in the whole world, and the pulmonologist is generally the first medical professional to meet the patient and decide what method of tumour sampling is preferable in each specific case. It is imperative for pulmonary physicians to be aware of the intricacies of the diagnostic process, and understand the multiple challenges that are encountered, from the moment the tissue specimen leaves their offices and is sent to the pathology laboratory, until the diagnosis reaches the patient and treating physician.

Recent findings: The new 2021 WHO classification of thoracic tumours recommended a minimum immunohistochemical (IHC) diagnostic panel for nonsmall cell lung cancer (NSCLC), and following publications of different institutional and country-based guidelines, advocated basic molecular testing for epithelial growth factor receptor (EGFR), anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK) and programmed cell death ligand 1 (PD-L1) to be initiated by the diagnosing pathologist in all cases of biopsy or resection specimens. In general, sequential testing for molecular biomarkers was not recommended due to tissue wastage, instead next generation sequencing (NGS) diagnostic panel was supported.

Summary: The lung cancer specimen has to undergo histologic diagnosis through a panel of IHC studies, and -preferably, a reflex molecular study by NGS including several targetable genes. Adequate communication and clinical information preclude the pathologist from "overusing" the tissue for additional studies, while focusing on preservation of material for molecular testing.

Purpose of review: The rapid evolution of bronchoscopy equipment and technologies, from the introduction of the 1.1 mm flexible cryoprobe to the use of navigational and robotic bronchoscopy, has afforded unprecedented opportunities for pediatric advanced diagnostic and interventional bronchoscopy. While there is growing interest among pediatric pulmonologists to incorporate these new techniques into their practice, the current pediatric landscape is characterized by few practicing interventional bronchoscopists, scant published literature, and no formal training programs.

Recent findings: While the majority of the published literature consists of case reports and small case series, the increased application of new techniques is starting to yield larger and more structured studies that will be able to provide more objective commentary on the proposed indications, safety, and efficacy of such techniques in the pediatric population.

Summary: For many decades, progress in pediatric advanced diagnostic and interventional bronchoscopy was slow and deliberate, limited by the lack of appropriately sized equipment and experienced interventional bronchoscopists. The current opportunities afforded require equal, or perhaps even more, vigilance as pediatric pulmonologists employ new equipment and technologies and define new practices and standards of care. Importantly, this review is meant to serve as a general conspectus of pediatric advanced diagnostic and interventional bronchoscopy and not a consensus guideline for the performance of advanced or even routine bronchoscopy in the pediatric population. For technical standards of pediatric bronchoscopy, refer to existing guidelines [1,2] .

Purpose of review: Technological advancement in low-dose computed tomography resulted in an increased incidental discovery of early-stage lung cancer and multifocal ground glass opacity. The demand for parenchyma-preserving treatment strategies is greater now than ever. Pulmonary ablative therapy is a groundbreaking technique to offer local ablative treatment in a lung-sparing manner. It has become a promising technique in lung cancer management with its diverse applicability. In this article, we will review the current development of ablative therapy in lung and look into the future of this innovative technique.

Recent findings: Current literature suggests that ablative therapy offers comparable local disease control to other local therapies and stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT), with a low risk of complications. In particular, bronchoscopic microwave ablation (BMWA) has considerably fewer pleural-based complications due to the avoidance of pleural puncture. BMWA can be considered in the multidisciplinary treatment pathway as it allows re-ablation and allows SBRT after BMWA.

Summary: With the benefits which ablative therapy offers and its ability to incorporate into the multidisciplinary management pathway, we foresee ablative therapy, especially BMWA gaining significance in lung cancer treatment. Future directions on developing novel automated navigation platforms and the latest form of ablative energy would further enhance clinical outcomes for our patients.

Purpose of review: This review provides an overview of the evolving field of airway stenting (AS), highlighting its relevance in the management of central airway obstruction (CAO). It discusses recent advancements, including 3D-printed silicone stents (3DPSS), metallic stents, biodegradable stents (BS), and drug-eluting stents (DES), which are transforming clinical practice. The review underscores the ongoing challenges in patient selection, stent choice, and long-term management in the context of an evolving landscape.

Recent findings: Innovations, particularly 3DPSS, have shown promise in providing patient-specific solutions. These stents offer improved symptom relief, enhanced quality of life, and lower complication rates, especially for complex airway diseases. The use of BS and DES is explored, raising prospects for future applications.

Summary: The evolution of AS reflects a deepening understanding of airway obstructions. Recent innovations, such as 3DPSS, BS, and DES, show considerable promise in addressing the limitations of conventional stents. However, challenges related to complications, patient selection, and long-term management persist, demanding further research. Wide practice variations in the management of AS highlight the need for more clinical data and standardized guidelines. The search for the ideal stent continues, driven by the pursuit of better outcomes for patients with CAO.