Shape-Sensing Robotic-Assisted Bronchoscopy in the Multiple Pulmonary Nodules Diagnosis During a Single Anesthetic Event

INTRODUCTION

The widespread use of Computed tomography (CT) as a screening tool for early lung cancer has increased detection of pulmonary lesions. It is common to encounter patients with more than one peripheral pulmonary nodule (PPN) of uncertain etiology. Shape-sensing robotic-assisted bronchoscopy (ssRAB) emerges as a potential alternative to biopsy multiple PPN, in addition to mediastinal staging in single anesthetic procedure.

METHODS

Retrospective review of 22 patients who underwent ssRAB for evaluation of two or more PPN, between November 2021 and April 2023 at Mayo Clinic Florida, US.

RESULTS

A total of 46 PPN were biopsied in 22 patients. All lesions were ≤ 2 cm with a maximum and minimum median lesion size of 1.40cm and 1.05cm, respectively. Diagnostic yield was 84.8% (n=39) and target reach was 91.3% (n=42). Most lesions were in the upper lobes, a solid pattern was found in 78.3% (n=36), bronchus sign was present in 82.6% of cases (n=38), 54.4% (n=25) were malignant nodules, and 30.4% (n=14) were benign. Fourteen patients had one malignant lesion out of two or more nodules sampled and ten patients had a malignant diagnosis for all sampled lesions. The complication rate was 9% (n=2) and pneumothorax rate was 4.5% (n=1).

CONCLUSION

This study is, to our knowledge, the first to assess the use and safety of ssRAB for diagnosis of multiple PPN in a single anesthetic event. This procedure will mainly impact management decisions and subsequently shorten the time from diagnosis to treatment.

Diagnostic Accuracy of a Computed Tomography-Guided Transthoracic Needle Biopsy for Ground-Glass Opacities and Subsolid Pulmonary Nodules

Purpose The increasing use of computed tomography (CT) imaging has led to the detection of more ground-glass nodules (GGNs) and subsolid nodules (SSNs), which may be malignant and require a biopsy for proper diagnosis. Approximately 75% of persistent GGNs can be attributed to adenocarcinoma in situ or minimally invasive adenocarcinoma. A CT-guided biopsy has been proven to be a reliable procedure with high diagnostic performance. However, the diagnostic accuracy and safety of a CT-guided biopsy for GGNs and SSNs with solid components ≤6 mm are still uncertain. The aim of this study is to assess the diagnostic accuracy of a CT-guided core needle biopsy (CNB) for GGN and SSNs with solid components ≤6 mm. Methods This is a retrospective study of patients who underwent CT-guided CNB for the evaluation of GGNs and SSNs with solid components ≤6 mm between February 2020 and January 2023. Biopsy findings were compared to the final diagnosis determined by definite histopathologic examination and clinical course. Results A total of 22 patients were enrolled, with a median age of 74 years (IQR: 68-81). A total of 22 nodules were assessed, comprising 15 (68.2%) SSNs with a solid component measuring ≤6 mm and seven (31.8%) pure GGNs. The histopathological examination revealed that 12 (54.5%) were diagnosed as malignant, nine (40.9%) as benign, and one (4.5%) as non-diagnostic. The overall diagnostic accuracy and sensitivity for malignancy were 86.36% and 85.7%, respectively. Conclusion A CT-guided CNB for GGNs and SSNs with solid components measuring ≤6 mm appears to have a high diagnostic accuracy.

Knowledge and perceptions regarding pulmonary rehabilitation amongst Ecuadorian physicians following COVID-19 outbreak

Background

Pulmonary rehabilitation is already an established technique for patients with chronic respiratory disease, aimed at improving breathlessness, exercise capacity, health status, and well-being. The aim of this study was to assess the knowledge and perceptions about pulmonary rehabilitation post-COVID-19 infection among Ecuadorian physicians.

Methods

We conducted a cross-sectional online survey-based study using a 27-item questionnaire to assess the knowledge about specific topics related to pulmonary rehabilitation. The sample comprised Ecuadorian physicians who were currently enrolled to an active medical practice that included care to COVID-19 patients. Descriptive statistics were applied for demographic variables of interest. A chi-square goodness of fit test was used to determine whether the observed frequencies of each of the answers per query were within or outside of the expected frequencies by chance.

Results

In total, 295 participants answered the survey, out of which 57.3% were general practitioners. Most agreed that COVID-19 infected patients must be followed-up with some measurement of respiratory function (81.4%, p=0.000), but only 18.3% (n=54, p=0.000) were aware of specific guidelines related to rehabilitation. 93.6% (n=276, p=0.000) considered that pulmonary rehabilitation provides a benefit, of any kind, to patients with past COVID-19 infection.

Conclusions

Most physicians considered pulmonary rehabilitation beneficial following COVID-19. However, there is uncertainty on how to adequately follow up patients, complementary tests, and specific guidelines outlining rehabilitative interventions.

Shape-Sensing Robotic-Assisted Bronchoscopy versus Computed Tomography-Guided Transthoracic Biopsy for the Evaluation of Subsolid Pulmonary Nodules

INTRODUCTION

Lung cancer remains the leading cause of cancer death worldwide. Subsolid nodules (SSN), including ground-glass nodules (GGNs) and part-solid nodules (PSNs), are slow-growing but have a higher risk for malignancy. Therefore, timely diagnosis is imperative. Shape-sensing robotic-assisted bronchoscopy (ssRAB) has emerged as reliable diagnostic procedure, but data on SSN and how ssRAB compares to other diagnostic interventions such as CT-guided transthoracic biopsy (CTTB) are scarce. In this study, we compared diagnostic yield of ssRAB versus CTTB for evaluating SSN.

METHODS

A retrospective study of consecutive patients who underwent either ssRAB or CTTB for evaluating GGN and PSN with a solid component less than 6 mm from February 2020 to April 2023 at Mayo Clinic Florida and Rochester. Clinicodemographic information, nodule characteristics, diagnostic yield, and complications were compared between ssRAB and CTTB.

RESULTS

A total of 66 nodules from 65 patients were evaluated: 37 PSN and 29 GGN. Median size of PSN solid component was 5 mm (IQR: 4.5, 6). Patients were divided into two groups: 27 in the ssRAB group and 38 in the CTTB group. Diagnostic yield was 85.7% for ssRAB and 89.5% for CTTB (p = 0.646). Sensitivity for malignancy was similar between ssRAB and CTTB (86.4% vs. 88.5%; p = 0.828), with no statistical difference. Complications were more frequent in CTTB with no significant difference (8 vs. 2; p = 0.135).

CONCLUSION

Diagnostic yield for SSN was similarly high for ssRAB and CTTB, with ssRAB presenting less complications and allowing mediastinal staging within the same procedure.

Diagnostic Yield of Shape-Sensing Robotic-Assisted Bronchoscopy for Ground-Glass Nodules and Subsolid Nodules with a Solid Component Less than 6 mm

BACKGROUND

Ground-glass pulmonary nodules (GGNs) are most commonly sampled by percutaneous transthoracic biopsy. Diagnostic yield for ground-glass nodules using robotic-assisted bronchoscopy has been scarcely described, with a reported yield of 70.6%.

OBJECTIVES

The aim of this study is to assess diagnostic yield for GGNs using shape-sensing robotic-assisted bronchoscopy (ssRAB).

METHOD

A retrospective study of patients who underwent ssRAB for evaluation of GGNs, from September 2021 to April 2023. Primary outcome was diagnostic yield of ssRAB for GGNs, secondary outcomes were sensitivity for malignancy, and complications that required admission or intervention.

RESULTS

A total of 23 nodules were biopsied from 22 patients. Median age was 71 years (IQR 66-81), 63.6% were female, and 40.9% had a previous history of cancer. Forty-three percent of nodules were in the right upper lobes, and the median lesion size was 1.8 × 1.21. Twelve were subsolid nodules (SSNs), and 11 were pure GGNs. Overall diagnostic yield was 87%, with a sensitivity for malignancy of 88.9%. Adenocarcinoma was the most common malignancy diagnosed (70%). No procedure-related complications were reported.

CONCLUSION

The use of ssRAB shows a high diagnostic yield for diagnosing GGN and SSN with less than 6 mm solid component with a low risk for complications.

Pneumatic stenting in the surgical candidacy assessment for cough variant expiratory central airway collapse

Expiratory Central Airway Collapse (ECAC) is a multifactorial, underdiagnosed entity that poses unique challenges. Airway stenting is used as a predictor for successful outcomes after central airway stabilization surgery via tracheobronchoplasty (TBP). This approach may pose suboptimal performance in certain ECAC variants. We hypothesize that Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP), used as a pneumatic stent, could be a non-invasive alternative to evaluate surgical candidacy in cough-predominant ECAC presentations. We report on a 67-year-old female with a history of chronic cough and confirmed ECAC. After optimization of medical therapy without significant relief and unsuccessful stent trial. We opted to perform CPAP trial during exercise, the patient exercised on a treadmill, and CPAP was applied at two levels (9 cmH₂O, 11 cmH₂O). The use of CPAP was associated with resolution of cough and a decrease in exercise-related perceived exertion. Applying CPAP during exercise may be a promising alternative to stent trials to determine patients' candidacy for surgical management of cough-predominant ECAC.

Current trends in carotid body tumors: Comprehensive review

BACKGROUND

Carotid body tumor (CBT) is a rare neoplasm that has been increasingly studied during the last decades; nevertheless, it continues to be a topic of controversy. This review aims to provide an update on the general features of CBT and particularly review different treatment strategies and primary outcomes.

METHODS

Data for this literature review were identified by PubMed, Scopus, and Medline. 93 articles from the initial search were included, as well as 28 relevant studies utilizing the snowballing method; totaling 121 articles about CBT.

RESULTS

Main features such as anatomy, embryology, genetics, clinical presentation, and diagnosis of CBT are presented, followed by evidence of different treatment strategies such as radiotherapy, preoperative embolization, vascular resection, and vascular reconstruction. Main complications are also discussed.

CONCLUSION

This review summarizes the most critical aspects regarding CBT. Future studies should compare different treatments to attain the best surgical results with lower morbidity rates.

Physician’s attitudes on pulmonary rehabilitation following COVID-19: a brief perspective from a developing country

Despite the uncertainty about the follow up of COVID-19 survivors, there is a growing body of evidence supporting specific interventions including pulmonary rehabilitation, which may lead to a reduced hospital stay and improved overall respiratory function. The aim of this short report was to assess the attitudes toward pulmonary rehabilitation following COVID-19 among Ecuadorian physicians. A cross-sectional study was conducted, in which a 5-question survey was used to assess the level of agreement to specific statements with a 5-point Likert scale. Out of the 282 participants, 48.2% (n=136) were male, with a mean of 12.6 (SD=11.3) years of experience. More than half of physicians (63.8%, n=180; χ²(2) = 139.224, p=0.000) considered that diagnosis and treatment of patients with sub-acute and chronic COVID-19 pulmonary sequelae is not clear. Additionally, 94.3% (n=266; χ²(2) = 497.331, p=0.000) agreed that pulmonary rehabilitation must be considered as a relevant strategy in long-term care following an acute infection, with 92.6% (n=261; χ²(2) = 449.772, p=0.000) stating it will improve the likelihood of survival and return to baseline health. In conclusion, we found that considerable majority of physicians held positive attitudes to the role of pulmonary rehabilitation and considered it as a relevant strategy in long-term care following COVID-19. However, most of them also conveyed that the diagnosis and treatment of chronic pulmonary sequalae is unclear, and that guidelines for assessing pulmonary function should be established.

Challenging the "old boys club" in academia: Gender and geographic representation in editorial boards of journals publishing in environmental sciences and public health

In light of global environmental crises and the need for sustainable development, the fields of public health and environmental sciences have become increasingly interrelated. Both fields require interdisciplinary thinking and global solutions, which is largely directed by scientific progress documented in peer-reviewed journals. Journal editors play a critical role in coordinating and shaping what is accepted as scientific knowledge. Previous research has demonstrated a lack of diversity in the gender and geographic representation of editors across scientific disciplines. This study aimed to explore the diversity of journal editorial boards publishing in environmental science and public health. The Clarivate Journal Citation Reports database was used to identify journals classified as Public, Environmental, and Occupational (PEO) Health, Environmental Studies, or Environmental Sciences. Current EB members were identified from each journal's publicly available website between 1 March and 31 May 2021. Individuals' names, editorial board roles, institutional affiliations, geographic locations (city, country), and inferred gender were collected. Binomial 95% confidence intervals were calculated for the proportions of interest. Pearson correlations with false discovery rate adjustment were used to assess the correlation between journal-based indicators and editorial board characteristics. Linear regression and logistic regression models were fitted to further assess the relationship between gender presence, low- and middle-income country (LMIC) presence and several journal and editor-based indicators. After identifying 628 unique journals and excluding discontinued or unavailable journals, 615 journal editorial boards were included. In-depth analysis was conducted on 591 journals with complete gender and geographic data for their 27,772 editors. Overall, the majority of editors were men (65.9%), followed by women (32.9%) and non-binary/other gender minorities (0.05%). 75.5% journal editorial boards (n = 446) were composed of a majority of men (>55% men), whilst only 13.2% (n = 78) demonstrated gender parity (between 45-55% women/gender minorities). Journals categorized as PEO Health had the most gender diversity. Furthermore, 84% of editors (n = 23,280) were based in high-income countries and only 2.5% of journals (n = 15) demonstrated economic parity in their editorial boards (between 45-55% editors from LMICs). Geographically, the majority of editors' institutions were based in the United Nations (UN) Western Europe and Other region (76.9%), with 35.2% of editors (n = 9,761) coming solely from the United States and 8.6% (n = 2,373) solely from the United Kingdom. None of the editors-in-chief and only 27 editors in total were women based in low-income countries. Through the examination of journal editorial boards, this study exposes the glaring lack of diversity in editorial boards in environmental science and public health, explores the power dynamics affecting the creation and dissemination of knowledge, and proposes concrete actions to remedy these structural inequities in order to inform more equitable, just and impactful knowledge creation.

Diagnostic Performance of Erythropoietin Levels in Polycythemia Vera: Experience at a Comprehensive Cancer Center

INTRODUCTION

Considering the evolving diagnostic criteria of polycythemia vera (PV), we analyzed the utility of serum erythropoietin (EPO) as a predictive marker for differentiating polycythemia vera (PV) from other etiologies of erythrocytosis.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

We conducted a retrospective study after a review of electronical medical records from January 2005 to December 2016 with diagnosis of erythrocytosis using International Classification of Disease-specific codes. To evaluate the diagnostic performance of EPO levels and JAK2-V617F mutation, we constructed a receiver-operated characteristic curve of sensitivity versus 1-specificity for serum EPO levels and JAK2-V617F mutation as predictive markers for differentiating PV from other causes of erythrocytosis.

RESULTS

We surveyed 577 patients with erythrocytosis. Median patient age was 59.2 years, 57.72% (n = 329) were male, 86.3% (n = 491) were white, and only 3.3% (n = 19) were African American. A total of 80.88% (n = 351) of those diagnosed with PV had a JAK2-V617F mutation compared to only 1.47% (n = 2) whose primary diagnosis was secondary polycythemia. When comparing JAK2-V617 mutation to the EPO level, the area under the curve of JAK2-V617 (0.8970) was statistically larger than that of EPO test (0.6765). Therefore, the PV diagnostic methodology using JAK2-V617 is better than the EPO test. An EPO level of < 2 mIU/mL was > 99% specific to predict PV but was only 12% sensitive.

CONCLUSION

In the appropriate clinical setting, cytogenetic and molecular studies such as JAK2 mutation status prevail as the most useful tools for PV case identification. The use of isolated EPO to screen patients with erythrocytosis is not a good diagnostic approach.