Diagnostic usefulness of transbronchial lung cryobiopsy in two patients mildly affected with pulmonary lymphangioleiomyomatosis

• Published in: Respiratory investigation Vol. 58; no. 4; pp. 295 - 299
• Main Authors: Yoshida, Mina, Awano, Nobuyasu, Inomata, Minoru, Kuse, Naoyuki, Tone, Mari, Yoshimura, Hanako, Jo, Tatsunori, Takada, Kohei, Kumasaka, Toshio, Izumo, Takehiro
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Netherlands Elsevier B.V 01.07.2020
• Subjects: Diagnosis; Lymphangioleiomyomatosis; Surgical lung biopsy; Transbronchial lung biopsy; Transbronchial lung cryobiopsy; ILD; TBLC; TBLB; SLB; Transbronchial lung cryobiopsy; Surgical lung biopsy; Lymphangioleiomyomatosis; CT; DLCO; LAM; FEV1; Diagnosis; Transbronchial lung biopsy; PFT
• ISSN: 2212-5345; 2212-5353
• DOI: 10.1016/j.resinv.2020.02.005

Transbronchial lung biopsy is a non-invasive technique used primarily for the pathological diagnosis of lymphangioleiomyomatosis (LAM). However, some cases, particularly those with early-stage lung lesions, are difficult to diagnose because of the specimen size and presence of artifacts. Herein, we present two cases of LAM with relatively mild cystic changes in the lungs and slight impairment seen in pulmonary function tests. Both patients were diagnosed pathologically through transbronchial lung cryobiopsy. These cases indicate that transbronchial lung cryobiopsy is a useful tool for diagnosing early-stage pulmonary LAM owing to its appropriate specimen size for detecting LAM cells and few crush artifacts.