Lung biopsy in children: when is it useful?
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Read the article on bit.ly ↗Article · Jun 2020 · 1 min read
In brief
In brief
This retrospective study of 39 pediatric lung biopsies over 11 years found that biopsy provided definitive diagnosis in 64% of cases and altered treatment in 38% of patients, with low morbidity and no mortality. The findings support selective use of lung biopsy in children when diagnostic uncertainty exists, though careful patient selection is essential to maximize yield given the 28% inconclusive rate.
Written by the GCMD Library team from the article.
Aim: To provide a further insight into the usefulness of lung biopsy in children.
Methods: Lung biopsies in children from January 2007 to December 2017 were reviewed (n=39). The histology results were categorised as: definitive diagnosis, normal lung parenchyma, inconclusive.
Results: Lung biopsy provided a definitive diagnosis in 25 (64%) cases. A suspected diagnosis was confirmed in 16 (41%) and a new diagnosis was found in 9 (23%) children. Histology was inconclusive in 11 (28%) cases and normal in 3 (8%). Fifteen (38%) children had treatment altered due to the biopsy result.
Conclusion: Lung biopsy mostly confirmed the suspected diagnosis and was associated with a low procedure related morbidity (n=1) and mortality (n=0). Importantly, the biopsy result identified a pathology which altered treatment in over one third of patients. However, in a number of cases the histology was inconclusive, therefore careful patient selection is recommended to maximise diagnostic yield.
DOI: 10.1136/archdischild-2019-318443