DIAGNOSTIC YIELD OF VARIOUS BRONCHOSCOPIC SAMPLING FOR LUNG CANCER DIAGNOSIS: A RETROSPECTIVE STUDY

Abstract

Background: Lung cancer continues to be the primary cause of cancer related deaths around the world. Detecting the disease early and accurately is crucial for improving patient outcomes. Different techniques like bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL), bronchial brushings and biopsy are used to diagnose lung cancer through bronchoscopy. This study looks back at how effective these techniques were in diagnosing the disease.

Methodology: The analysis reviewed 62 patients suspected of having lung cancer who underwent fibreoptic bronchoscopy guided biopsy, brushings and BAL at Saveetha Medical College's Department of Respiratory Medicine. It focused on measuring the sensitivity and specificity of each bronchoscopy technique. Data was analysed using IBM SPSS Statistics 28.0.1.0 to assess how accurate each method was in diagnosing lung cancer.

Results: The study revealed that combining BAL and biopsy showed a 75% positivity for malignancy, while BAL and brushings had an 85% positivity rate, reaching up to 88% when all three techniques were combined. Using all methods together resulted in the highest sensitivity (87.50%) and accuracy (83.33%), with a positive predictive value (PPV) of 93.33%. Adenocarcinoma was identified as the most prevalent histopathological type in 68% of cases, followed by squamous cell carcinoma in 31%.

Conclusion: Utilizing BAL along with bronchial brushings and biopsy significantly boosts the ability to diagnose lung cancer effectively. In clinical settings, this combined method enhances diagnostic accuracy, playing a key role in achieving precise and timely detection of lung cancer.