Diagnostic value of the combined use of radial probe endobronchial ultrasound and transbronchial biopsy in lung cancer

Background Although the use of radial endobronchial ultrasound (R‐EBUS) with a guide sheath has shown improved diagnostic capability in peripheral pulmonary lesions, its utility is still low due to variable performance. To overcome its limitation, we evaluated the feasibility and efficacy of R‐EBUS combined with transbronchial biopsy (TBB) under fluoroscopic guidance. Methods We retrospectively reviewed medical records of 74 patients with non‐small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) who underwent R‐EBUS combined with TBB or TBB alone as a diagnostic technique. Subjects were grouped according to the diagnostic modality used (R‐EBUS combined with TBB vs. TBB alone). Each group was matched for age, sex, and location of the biopsy. The chi‐square test and paired t‐test were used to compare characteristics and identify factors that affected the diagnostic yield. Results The mean age of the study cohort was 67.4 ± 12.8 years, with 21 (56.8%) men and 16 (43.2%) women in each group. The lesion size was significantly smaller in the R‐EBUS group (23.6 vs. 33.9, P