Bronchoscopic transparenchymal nodule access (BTPNA): first in human trial of a novel procedure for sampling solitary pulmonary nodules

With the increase in solitary pulmonary nodule identification anticipated with increased CT screening, the authors devised a novel method of bronchoscopically biopsying nodules not adjacent to airways.  Using endoscopic instruments, a transparenchymal tunnel was created between a bronchial entry point to the nodule, and biopsies were obtained.  The procedure was successful in 10/12 pts and the histologic results were well correlated with surgical findings.  No complications occurred.