Direct endoscopic visualization of small peripheral lung nodules using a miniaturized videoendoscopy probe.

A study published in the journal Respirology discusses the use of a miniaturized videoendoscopy probe called Iriscope® for visualizing small peripheral lung nodules. The study included 23 patients who underwent the procedure, which involved using a navigational endoscopic technique and the probe to visualize the nodules. The probe provided clear images, allowing for accurate diagnosis and sampling. The study found that the probe was effective in identifying malignant nodules and had a high sampling diagnostic rate. However, the study did not test the probe's effectiveness on ground-glass opacities or differentiate between subsegmental atelectasis and lung cancer. Overall, the miniaturized videoendoscopy probe appears to be a useful tool for improving the diagnostic yield of procedures for peripheral lung nodules. The study was conducted ethically with informed consent from all participants. [Extracted from the article]