Transbronchial biopsy with virtual CT bronchoscopy and nodal highlighting

Transbronchial biopsy to sample lymph nodes and tumors that are not visible at endoscopy has a poor (<50%) success rate. These nodes can be highlighte d easily at virtual computed tomographic (CT) bronchoscopy to provide a gui de. This study was performed to evaluate if the addition of this informatio n to the bronchoscopist improved the success rate of transbronchial biopsy of subcarinal and aortopulmonary lymph nodes. The addition of virtual CT br onchoscopy with lymph node highlighting significantly (P<.5) increased biop sy success rates for pretracheal, hilar, and high pretracheal adenopathy.