Abstract
The aim of the study was to determine whether use of fluorescence bronchoscopy improves the detection of preinvasive neoplastic bronchial lesions. The data of all patients who underwent fluorescence bronchoscopy and in whom bronchial biopsies were taken, were analyzed. Most patients were at risk for preinvasive lesions. A total of 174 bronchoscopies were performed in 95 patients. Of the 681 representative biopsies, 31 were found to be moderate dysplastic, 39 were found to be severe dysplastic and 9 exhibited carcinoma in situ. These 79 preinvasive lesions were found in 34 patients. The respective results of fluorescence bronchoscopy in addition to conventional bronchoscopy and of conventional bronchoscopy alone for detection of preinvasive lesions were: sensitivity 85% (67/79) and 59% (47/79); specificity 60% (351/581) and 85% (493/581); positive predictive values of 23% (67/297) and 35% (47/135); negative predictive values of 97% (351/363) and 94% (493/525). A separate analysis of only the first bronchoscopy of each patient showed similar results. Results of fluoresence bronchoscopy were better in the second part of the patient group. We conclude that after a learning period fluorescence bronchoscopy can increase the yield of finding preinvasive neoplastic lesions when used in addition to conventional bronchoscopy.
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