2023 World Conference on Lung Cancer (Posters)-EP05.01. Observation of Peripheral Airways Using Ultra-Thin Fiberscope

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Researchers from Tachikawa Hospital in Japan have developed an ultra-thin fiberscope, called the Laser-eYe Ultra-thin fiberscope (LYU), for observation of peripheral airways. Currently, the diagnostic yield for peripherally located lung nodules is around 70%, as biopsy is often performed without direct visualization of the tumors. To overcome this limitation, the researchers developed the LYU, which has a tip with radiopaque markers to improve the selection of individual bronchi during advancement.<br /><br />In their study, the researchers used a specially designed desiccator to place the resected lung under negative pressure and inserted the LYU to observe the peripheral airway. They successfully identified peripheral lesions in the human lung for the first time in the world using this sub-1 mm fiberscope. The researchers consider this to be the first report of observing human lung lesions at the alveolar level. However, further improvements and clinical trials are needed for clinical use to achieve the ultimate goal of integrated LYU-guided diagnosis and phototherapy.<br /><br />The researchers provided several case examples, including a 75-year-old male with stage IA adenocarcinoma in the left lower lobe, a 76-year-old male with stage IA squamous cell carcinoma in the left upper lobe, and an 80-year-old male with stage IA squamous cell carcinoma in the left lower lobe. These cases demonstrate the potential of the LYU fiberscope for diagnosing and treating peripheral lung tumors.<br /><br />In conclusion, the development of the ultra-thin fiberscope has enabled the observation of peripheral airways and identification of pulmonary lesions at the alveolar level. This breakthrough technology holds promise for improving the diagnostic yield and treatment options for peripherally located lung nodules. However, further research and clinical trials are needed to validate its clinical use.

Asset Subtitle

Tomonari Kinoshita

Meta Tag

Speaker Tomonari Kinoshita

Topic Pulmonology & Staging

Keywords

Ultra-thin fiberscope

Laser-eYe Ultra-thin fiberscope

Peripheral airways

Diagnostic yield

Lung nodules

Bronchi

Radiopaque markers

Sub-1 mm fiberscope

Alveolar level

Peripheral lung tumors