Semin Respir Crit Care Med 2018; 39(06): 637-648
DOI: 10.1055/s-0038-1676645
Review Article
Thieme Medical Publishers 333 Seventh Avenue, New York, NY 10001, USA.

Transbronchial Cryobiopsies

Scott S. Oh
1   Division of Pulmonary, Critical Care Medicine, Clinical Immunology, and Allergy, Department of Medicine, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, Los Angeles, California
,
W. Dean Wallace
2   Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, Los Angeles, California
,
Faisal Shaikh
1   Division of Pulmonary, Critical Care Medicine, Clinical Immunology, and Allergy, Department of Medicine, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, Los Angeles, California
,
Joseph P. Lynch III
1   Division of Pulmonary, Critical Care Medicine, Clinical Immunology, and Allergy, Department of Medicine, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, Los Angeles, California
› Author Affiliations
Further Information

Publication History

Publication Date:
14 January 2019 (online)

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Abstract

Transbronchial lung cryobiopsy (TBLCB) is a relatively new and promising technique for the acquisition of larger amounts of higher quality lung tissue for the diagnosis of lung diseases. There is a growing body of literature describing a diagnostic yield comparable to surgical lung biopsy with a favorable safety profile. Due to its advantages TBLCB has garnered significant interest with more institutions beginning to adopt this technique. However, several questions remain including its role in the diagnostic algorithm, indications, and technique. Herein we provide a review of the available literature describing diagnostic yield, complications, and differing techniques as well as a perspective from pathology.