Positron Emission-Computed Tomography, Cryobiopsy versus Bronchoalveolar Lavage and Computed Tomography Findings for Interstitial Lung Disease: A Long-Term Follow-Up
Paul Zarogoulidis,
Dimitris Matthaios,
Haidong Huang,
Chong Bai,
Wolfgang Hohenforst-Schmidt,
Konstantinos Porpodis,
Dimitris Petridis,
Konstantinos Pigakis,
Nikolaos Kougkas,
Panagoula Oikonomou,
Christina Nikolaou,
Dimitris Hatzibougias,
Chrysanthi Sardeli
Affiliations
Paul Zarogoulidis
Pulmonary Department, General Clinic Euromedica, 54454 Thessaloniki, Greece
Dimitris Matthaios
Oncology Department, General Hospital of Rhodes, 85133 Rhodes, Greece
Haidong Huang
Department of Respiratory & Critical Care Medicine, Changhai Hospital, the Second Military Medical University, Shanghai 200433, China
Chong Bai
Department of Respiratory & Critical Care Medicine, Changhai Hospital, the Second Military Medical University, Shanghai 200433, China
Wolfgang Hohenforst-Schmidt
Sana Clinic Group Franken, Department of Cardiology/Pulmonology/Intensive Care/Nephrology, “Hof” Clinics, University of Erlangen, 91052 Hof, Germany
Konstantinos Porpodis
Pulmonary Department, “George Papanikolaou” General Hospital, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, 56403 Thessaloniki, Greece
Dimitris Petridis
Department of Food Technology, School of Food Technology and Nutrition, Alexander Technological Educational Institute, 57400 Thessaloniki, Greece
Konstantinos Pigakis
Intensive Care Unit, Creta Interclinic, 71304 Iraklio, Greece
Nikolaos Kougkas
Rheumatology Department, Ippokrateio University General Hospital, 54642 Thessaloniki, Greece
Panagoula Oikonomou
Second Department of Surgery, University Hospital of Alexandroupolis, Medical School, Democritus University of Thrace, 68100 Alexandroupolis, Greece
Christina Nikolaou
Second Department of Surgery, University Hospital of Alexandroupolis, Medical School, Democritus University of Thrace, 68100 Alexandroupolis, Greece
Background and Objectives: Interstitial lung diseases have always been an issue for pulmonary and rheumatology physicians. Computed tomography scans with a high-resolution protocol and bronchoalveolar lavage have been used along with biochemical blood tests to reach a diagnosis. Materials and Methods: We included 80 patients in total. First, all patients had their diagnosis with computed tomography of the thorax, serological/ immunological blood tests and bronchoalveolar lavage. However; after 3 months, all were divided into 2 groups: those who had bronchoalveolar lavage again and those who had cryobiopsy instead of bronchoalveolar lavage (40/40). Positron emission-computed tomography was also performed upon the first and second diagnosis. The patients’ follow-up was 4 years from diagnosis. Results: Patients suffered most from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (56, 70%), while lung cancer was rarely encountered in the sample (7, 9.75%). Age distribution ranged between 53 and 68 years with a mean value of 60 years. The computed tomography findings revealed 25 patients with typical diagnosis (35.2%), 17 with interstitial pulmonary fibrosis (23.9%) and 11 with probable diagnosis (11%). The cryobiopsy technique led to a new diagnosis in 28 patients (35% of the total sample). Patients who had a new diagnosis with cryobiopsy had a mean survival time of 710 days (Conclusions: Cryobiopsy is a safe tool for patients with interstitial lung disease and can assist in the diagnosis of interstitial lung diseases. The survival of patients was increased in the cryobiopsy group versus only bronchoalveolar lavage for disease diagnosis.
