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Lung cancer is among one of the most commonly diagnosed malignancies and is the leading cause of cancer-related mortality in both men and women globally, with an estimated 1.8 million deaths annually. Moreover, it is also the leading cause of cancer related deaths in the United States (U.S.), with an estimated 127,000 deaths annually. Approximately 50% of patients who undergo chest Computed Tomography (CT) are found to have a pulmonary nodule (PN), albeit 95% of these PNs are subsequently found to be benign. Further complicating the challenge of timely detection of lung cancer, is made more difficult by the fact that most patients are totally asymptomatic in early stage of disease. However, given that sponsored studies by National Cancer Institute (NCI) and other organizations showed a 20% reduction in lung cancer specific mortality with low dose CT scanning in patients at risk, it is reasonable to assume that clinicians will confront this clinical scenario more frequently. Consequently, due to these significant findings, the United States Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) recommended annual screening of high-risk patients. Therefore, as result of these recommendations, 240,000 new lung cancers were diagnosed in the U.S. in 2020, with an estimated 238,000 new cases in 2023. Given the multitude of challenges, the practice guidelines and recommendations for the management of these PNs are often tailored to available resources and trained personnel familiar with the various techniques and technologies. This review will discuss the evolution of various advancements when tissue biopsy is required: from sputum cytology, nonguided bronchoscopy, percutaneous CT guided biopsy, guided advanced bronchoscopic techniques such as endobronchial ultrasound (EBUS), radial Endobronchial Ultrasound (rEBUS) to the latest advancement of robotic-assisted bronchoscopy (RAB). Furthermore, as many of the aforementioned techniques require anesthesia, as integral members of the multidisciplinary team, anesthesiologists are often in the unique position of facilitating diagnosis and subsequent treatment by other subspecialists when providing anesthetic care for these patients with PNs. Additionally, the common anesthetic considerations and implications for the preoperative, intraoperative, and postoperative periods will be elucidated further, with special emphasis on the unique considerations for RABs. Combined hybrid procedures with RAB, EBUS and surgery will also be reviewed, as they offer potential reduction in time of diagnosis to definitive treatment. Lastly, the strategies employed to mitigate some of the commonly encountered challenges faced by anesthesiologists when caring for these patients will also be reviewed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background FDG-PET–CT-based selective lymph node (LN) irradiation is standard using 3D-conformal techniques for locally advanced NSCLC. With newer techniques (intensity-modulated/volumetric-arc therapy (IMRT/VMAT)), the dose to non-involved adjacent LN decreases, which raises the question whether FDG-PET–CT-delineation is still safe. We therefore evaluated the impact of adding linear endosonography with needle aspiration (E(B)US-NA) to FDG-PET–CT in selective nodal irradiation. Methods Based on literature data on sensitivity and specificity of E(B)US-NA in FDG-PET–CT-staged NSCLC, false negative (FN) rates for different constellations of CT, PET and E(B)US-NA were calculated. The algorithm was tested on consecutive patients with N2/N3 disease referred for radiotherapy in Leuven and Maastricht. Results An algorithm determining when to include LN in the GTV is proposed, based on data from 5 meta-analyses. Adding E(B)US-NA to FDG-PET–CT decreases the FN-rate, but for PET-positive and E(B)US-negative LN, FN rates are still 14–16%. In Leuven 520 LN were analyzed, in Maastricht 364 LN; with E(B)US-NA a geographical miss was avoided in 2 (2/40 = 5%) and 1 (1/28 = 4%) patients, respectively. Conclusions E(B)US-NA in addition to FDG-PET–CT for mediastinal staging decreases the risk of a geographical miss with 4–5%. The impact of this small decrease on survival is unknown. The proposed algorithm may guide the radiation oncologist when to include LN in the nodal GTV. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Objectives: Stage classification is important because it allows consistent definition of patient groups, and thus provides a foundation for comparison of outcomes. For patients with multiple pulmonary foci of lung cancer, however, the classification rules are ambiguous and confusing. Materials and methods: We surveyed experts and clinicians who regularly evaluate patients with lung cancer to see how similar or different their interpretation of the official stage classification was for such patients. Results: We found a great deal of inconsistency in how four clinical scenarios were classified. No method of classification was chosen by a majority when there were more than two choices allowed by the classification rules. In a scenario with pulmonary foci of cancer of different histologic types, 86% classified this as separate primary cancers and 14% as multifocal lung cancer. Conclusion: The marked variability in classification must be taken into account when interpreting reported outcomes of patients with multiple pulmonary foci of lung cancer. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Objective: Accurate pathologic restaging of N2 stations after neoadjuvant therapy in stage IIIA (N2) non–small cell lung cancer is needed. Methods: A prospective multi-institutional trial was designed to judge the feasibility of videothoracoscopy to restage the ipsilateral nodes in mediastinoscopy-proven stage IIIA (N2) non–small cell lung cancer after 2 cycles of platinum-based chemotherapy and/or 40 Gy or more of radiotherapy. The goals included biopsy of 3 negative N2 node stations or to identify 1 positive N2 node or pleural carcinomatosis. Results: Ten institutions accrued 68 subjects. Of the 68 subjects, 46 (68%) underwent radiotherapy and 66 (97%) underwent chemotherapy. Videothoracoscopy successfully met the prestudy feasibility in 27 patients (40%): 3 negative stations confirmed at thoracotomy in 7, persistent stage N2 disease in 16, and pleural carcinomatosis in 4. In 20 procedures (29%), no N2 disease was found, 3 stations were not biopsied because of unanticipated nodal obliteration. Thus, 47 videothoracoscopy procedures (69%, 95% confidence interval, 57%-80%) restaged the mediastinum. Videothoracoscopy was unsuccessful in 21 patients (31%) because the procedure had to be aborted (n = 11) or because of false-negative stations (n = 10). Of the 21 failures, 15 were right-sided, and 10 had a positive 4R node. The sensitivity of videothoracoscopy was 67% (95% confidence interval, 47%-83%), and the negative predictive value was 73% (95% confidence interval, 56%-86%) if patients with obliterated nodal tissue were included. The sensitivity was 83% (95% confidence interval, 63%-95%) and the negative predictive value was 64% (95% confidence interval, 31%-89%) if those patients were excluded. The specificity was 100%. One death occurred after thoracotomy. Conclusions: Videothoracoscopy restaging was “feasible” in this prospective multi-institutional trial and provided pathologic specimens of the ipsilateral nodes. Videothoracoscopy restaging was limited by radiation and the 4R nodal station. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: We report a case of lung adenocarcinoma presenting as pure ground glass opacity (GGO) and diagnosed by bronchoscopy with the use endobronchial ultrasound with a guide sheath (EBUS-GS). The lesion was indistinguishable by real-time fluoroscopy but simultaneous endobronchial ultrasound scanning of the involved lung segment showed a hyperechoic shadow that was subtly more intense than a typical snowstorm appearance when scanning normal alveolar tissue. Transbronchial biopsy from this area revealed adenocarcinoma with lepidic growth. On hindsight, it was the aforementioned ultrasound pattern that helped us decide the sampling site for EBUS-GS guided TBB when fluoroscopy was equivocal. We hypothesize that this pattern is specific for GGO and we name it the Blizzard Sign. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The indications and utility of flexible bronchoscopy have expanded over the past few decades with major innovations in design and development of new tools for endobronchial interventions and image-guided tissue sampling techniques. This review highlights the application of advanced diagnostic bronchoscopy (including endobronchial ultrasound and CT navigational techniques), cryotherapy and the use of one-way endobronchial valves for persistent air leak in the pediatric setting. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: Conventional transbronchial needle aspiration (TBNA) is a valuable procedure but remains underutilised. Recently, imaging guidance such as CT fluoroscopy has created considerable interest. As CT fluoroscopy is cumbersome and exposes patients and staff to radiation, endosonographic imaging may be a better choice in providing guidance for TBNA or FNA in enlarged mediastinal lymph nodes. Real-time imaging during the procedure is helpful and increases the yield. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]