AB 10. Relation between histological types of lung cancer and vascular patterns visualized by narrow band imaging (NBI) videobronchoscopy

Abstract

Background Narrow Band Imaging (NBI) videobronchoscopy is a new technique for visualization of microvascular changes in bronchial mucosa. The primary aim of this study was to evaluate relation between vascular patterns visualized by NBI and histology of lung cancer.

Patients and methods We prospectively evaluated 65 patients with suspected lung cancer scheduled for bronchoscopy. NBI followed conventional WL videobronchoscopy. After identification of endoscopically visible tumor NBI was used to determine predominant type of pathological vascular pattern (dotted, tortuous, abrupt-ending blood vessels - Shibuya descriptors). All the lesions were biopsied and histologically confirmed.

Results There was 81.5% male and 18.5% female patients evaluated in the study. Lung cancer was confirmed in all patients; 63.1% was diagnosed with squamous cell lung cancer (SCC), 24.6% had adenocarcinoma, 9.2% had small cell (SCLC) and 3.1% large cell lung cancer (LC). Dotted blood vessels were significantly (P

Conclusions Dotted visual pattern of blood vessels identified during NBI videobronchoscopy is highly suggesting adenocarcinoma histology of lung cancer. Tortuous and abrupt ending blood vessels visualized under NBI videobronchoscopy significantly suggest squamous cell histology of lung cancer. Large scale studies should be designed in order to determine true relation between visual appearance and histology in lung cancer.