Opportunities for Interventional Radiology in Transbronchial Interventions

Abstract

Transbronchial interventions are rapidly evolving for diagnosis and treatment of peripheral lung nodules. Despite recent advances and lower risk of pleural-related complications, the diagnostic yield of bronchoscopic approaches remains lower than that of image-guided percutaneous approaches. Standardized transbronchial methods use engineered, robotic, and navigation approaches; however, a possible alternative approach familiar to interventional radiology (IR) could use image guidance, image fusion, and IR devices like guidewires and steerable sheaths for transbronchial navigation without the use of a bronchoscope. IR tools, training, and workforce might be applied to transbronchial approaches via minimally invasive image guidance. This review article summarizes current innovations and opportunities in transbronchial procedures that might be addressed using familiar IR technologies.