Influence of Narrow Band Imaging (NBI) Videobronchoscopy on the Assessment of Central Lung Cancer Extension and Therapeutic Decision

ABSTRACT

Objectives: Determination of specificity and sensitivity of narrow band imaging (NBI) in the assessment of tumor extension in centrally located lung cancer, when compared to white light bronchoscopy (WLB) alone, and evaluation of possible influence of NBI on therapeutic decision in patients with lung cancer. Patients and methods: We evaluated 36 patients with suspected lung cancer. All patients underwent WLB followed by NBI bronchoscopy. We were using videobronchoscope BF-1T180 and EVIS LUCERA SPECTRUM processor unit. Results: Sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value (PPV), and negative predictive value (NPV) for NBI in the assessment of tumor extension were 97.8, 85, 93.7, and 94.4%, respectively; and for WLB 92.3, 60, 69.6, and 88.9%, respectively. In 14 patients, NBI revealed more extensive tumor than WLB (p =.0057). In eight patients, NBI showed significant influence on therapeutic decision (p =.001). Conclusion: NBI videobronchoscopy had better specificity and sensitivity in the assessment of tumor extension in centrally located lung cancer, and it might play a significant role in the therapeutic decision.

Keywords: :

• Lung cancer
• Bronchoscopy
• Narrow band imaging bronchoscopy
• Interventional pulmonology
• Endoscopy

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

Dr Zaric Bojan was granted the European Respiratory Society (ERS) fellowship, Grant no. 627, to further improve skills in narrow band imaging, autofulorescence bronhchoscopy, and endobronchial ultrasound. The fellowship took part at the Thoraxklinik of the Faculty of Medicine, University of Heidelberg, Germany. The author wishes to express honest gratitude to the ERS host supervisor Prof Dr Heinrich Becker. This study was presented at the 11th Central European Lung Cancer Conference, held in Ljubljana, Slovenia and awarded with the “Best Paper Award.”