Cryobiopsy: A Work in Progress

Twentyfive patients underwent cryobiopsy procedures for a variety of indications, including diffuse parenchymal lung disease, post-lung transplantation and suspected lung cancer using a variety of procedural techniques utilizing fluoroscopy, radial endobronchial ultrasound, laryngeal mask airways and endotracheal tubes. Ideally, this run-in period should exist not in clinical practice, but should be developed through a process of clinical trials with robust methodology to answer a series of specific research questions that help define risk, efficacy and optimal patient populations prior to widespread clinical adoption. There are several ongoing trials comparing the utility of forceps biopsy versus cryobiopsy versus surgical biopsy in patients with interstitial lung disease (i.e.: clinicaltrials. gov identifier NCT01972685) as well as peripheral pulmonary lesions (i.e., clinicaltrials.gov identifier NCT02395939). Correspondence and requests for reprints should be addressed to Alexander C. Chen, M.D., Associate Professor of Medicine and Surgery; Divisions of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine and Cardiothoracic Surgery; Washington...