Transbronchial Cryobiopsy for the Diagnosis of Interstitial Lung Diseases

Publication Date: April 1, 2020
Last Updated: March 3, 2023

Objective

Objective

This patient summary means to discuss key recommendations from the American College of Chest Physicians for “Transbronchial Cryobiopsy for the Diagnosis of Interstitial Lung Diseases.”

Overview

Overview

  • “Interstitial lung disease” (ILD) is a collection of lung diseases that share symptoms but have different causes and require different treatments. All involve inflammation and scarring of lung tissue.
  • Symptoms include coughing, difficult breathing, weight loss, and fatigue.
  • Sometimes a precise diagnosis requires a specimen of lung tissue to be examined under a microscope. Obtaining that specimen is done by biopsy (a minor surgical procedure).
  • This patient summary focuses on a specific diagnosis of ILD.

Diagnosis

Diagnosis

  • There are several ways to obtain lung tissue for examination. The choice depends on where your diseased tissue is located.
    • Open surgical lung biopsy (SLB)
    • Endoscopic biopsy (obtaining a specimen through a narrow scope inserted through your airway)
    • Transbronchial cryobiopsy (TBC), the focus of this guideline, uses freezing the biopsy site to reduce bleeding.
  • When TBC is the chosen procedure, the American College of Chest Physicians advises specimens be obtained from two different sites at specified locations using x-ray guidance with added protection from bleeding and the smaller of two available instruments.
  • If TBC does not yield a definitive diagnosis, SLB is the next step.

Abbreviations

  • ILD: Interstitial Lung Disease
  • SLB: Surgical Lung Biopsy
  • TBC: Transbronchial Cryobiopsy

Source Citation

Maldonado F, Danoff SK, Wells AU, Colby TV, Ryu JH, Liberman M, Wahidi MM, Frazer L, Hetzel J, Rickman OB, Herth FJF, Poletti V, Yarmus LB. Transbronchial Cryobiopsy for the Diagnosis of Interstitial Lung Diseases: CHEST Guideline and Expert Panel Report. Chest. 2020 Apr;157(4):1030-1042. doi: 10.1016/j.chest.2019.10.048. Epub 2019 Nov 27. PMID: 31783014.

Disclaimer

The information in this patient summary should not be used as a substitute for professional medical care or advice. Contact a health care provider if you have questions about your health.