Wahidi, Momen M.

Abstract Introduction Multiple pulmonary nodules (MPNs) are commonly encountered in patients at elevated risk for thoracic malignancy and represent a spectrum of disease states and stages. We evaluated the safety, and procedural outcomes of a combined robotic assisted bronchoscopy (RaB) and linear endobronchial ultrasound (EBUS) approach to patients with MPNs during a single bronchoscopic procedure. Methods This multicenter observational registry included patients who underwent RaB for evaluation of MPNs. Data were prospectively collected from six centers between 2019 and 2025. Demographics, imaging characteristics, safety events, and procedural outcomes were analyzed and associated with final diagnosis. Results A total of 191 patients underwent RaB with biopsy of MPN during a single procedure; 167 patients also underwent linear EBUS lymph node sampling. The strict per nodule diagnostic yield was 71.5% overall (first nodule 70.7%, second 74.3%, third 71.4%). At least one malignant nodule was identified in 127 patients (66.8%), and 85 patients (44.5%) had two or more malignant nodules; 15 patients (17.6%) demonstrated heterogeneous histopathology between malignant nodules. Among patients with non–small cell lung cancer, adequate cellularity for next generation sequencing was achieved in 82.6% of nodules. Malignant lymph nodes were identified in 10.8% (18/167). No patients with two pure ground glass nodules (0/8) had malignant nodal involvement. Pneumothorax occurred in 7.3% of cases, with 2.1% requiring chest tube placement; unplanned admissions occurred in 3.7%. Conclusion This study provides a large multisite registry evaluation of performance of simultaneous bronchoscopic sampling of multiple pulmonary nodules with EBUS staging during a single anesthesia event demonstrating an acceptable safety profile and adequacy for molecular profiling.

8049 Background: Multiple pulmonary nodules (MPN) pose significant challenges for accurate staging of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). As next generation sequencing (NGS) technologies have become more widely available on smaller amounts of tissue, the prevalence and clinical implications of heterogeneity between MPNs are poorly understood. This study retrospectively evaluates the histopathological and NGS findings after MPN biopsy in a single robotic-assisted bronchoscopy (RaB) procedure. Methods: 191 patients were retrospectively enrolled at 6 geographically diverse centers in the US. All patients had 2+ pulmonary nodules biopsied and staging EBUS in the same procedure. An expert molecular pathologist reviewed NGS data between nodule pairs to determine if they were discordant, concordant, or indeterminate. Results: Of 191 patients, 85 patients had 2 malignant nodules with 15 of those demonstrating histopathologic heterogeneity (e.g., one adenocarcinoma, one squamous cell carcinoma). 26 patients with 2 malignant nodules of similar histopathology demonstrated molecular heterogeneity between nodules. These cases were reviewed by an expert molecular pathologist who determined the following breakdown: -15 discordant pairs (57.7%) -3 concordant pairs (11.5) -8 indeterminate pairs (30.8%) Breakdown by nodule density: -Discordant: 7 same density, 8 different density -Concordant: 3 same density -Indeterminate: 5 same density, 3 different density Breakdown by nodule laterality: -Discordant: 7 ipsilateral, 8 contralateral -Concordant: 2 ipsilateral, 1 contralateral -Indeterminate: 4 ipsilateral, 4 contralateral Staging EBUS was performed in all 26 cases with malignancy identified in 2 cases. NGS sufficiency for NSCLC from three sites with standardized NGS reporting was as follows: 1 st nodule biopsied: 42/54 (77.8%), 2 nd nodule biopsied: 37/51 (72.5%), 3 rd nodule biopsied: 2/4 (50%). In total, 90/109 (82.6%) NSCLC samples had adequate tissue for NGS. In 85 cases with 2 malignant nodules, 35 (41.2%) had all nodules Stage IIB or lower. Notably, 25 (29.4%) of the cases did not have NGS available on one or more of the nodules, thus precluding staging. Conclusions: This study highlights the frequency and clinical relevance of histopathologic and molecular heterogeneity among synchronous MPNs. Importantly, heterogeneity was not limited to contralateral or anatomically distant lesions, challenging the assumption that spatial proximity implies clonal relatedness. Further, this study shows that relying solely on density or radiographic features of a nodule is an incomplete discriminator between separate primary lung cancers and intrapulmonary metastasis. Our findings support the need for an integrated diagnostic paradigm in which sampling of multiple lesions is used to inform clonality, refine staging, and guide precision therapy.

Abstract For over 150 years, bronchoscopy, especially flexible bronchoscopy, has been a mainstay for airway inspection, the diagnosis of airway lesions, therapeutic aspiration of airway secretions, and transbronchial biopsy to diagnose parenchymal lung disorders. Its utility for the diagnosis of peripheral pulmonary nodules and therapeutic treatments besides aspiration of airway secretions, however, has been limited. Challenges to the wider use of flexible bronchoscopy have included difficulty in navigating to the lung periphery, the avoidance of vasculature structures when performing diagnostic biopsies, and the ability to biopsy a lesion under direct visualization. The last 10–15 years have seen major advances in thoracic imaging, navigational platforms to direct the bronchoscopist to lung lesions, and the ability to visualize lesions during biopsy. Moreover, multiple new techniques have either become recently available or are currently being investigated to treat a broad range of airway and lung parenchymal diseases, such as asthma, emphysema, and chronic bronchitis, or to alleviate recurrent exacerbations. New bronchoscopic therapies are also being investigated to not only diagnose, but possibly treat, malignant peripheral lung nodules. As a result, flexible bronchoscopy is now able to provide a new and expanding armamentarium of diagnostic and therapeutic tools to treat patients with a variety of lung diseases. This State-of-the-Art review succinctly reviews these techniques and provides clinicians an organized approach to their role in the diagnosis and treatment of a range of lung diseases.

The aim of the NCCN Guidelines for Management of Immunotherapy-Related Toxicities is to provide guidance on the management of immune-related adverse events resulting from cancer immunotherapy. The NCCN Management of Immunotherapy-Related Toxicities Panel is an interdisciplinary group of representatives from NCCN Member Institutions and ASCO, consisting of medical and hematologic oncologists with expertise in a wide array of disease sites, and experts from the fields of dermatology, gastroenterology, neuro-oncology, nephrology, emergency medicine, cardiology, oncology nursing, and patient advocacy. Several panel representatives are members of the Society for Immunotherapy of Cancer (SITC). The initial version of the NCCN Guidelines was designed in general alignment with recommendations published by ASCO and SITC. The content featured in this issue is an excerpt of the recommendations for managing toxicity related to immune checkpoint blockade and a review of existing evidence. For the full version of the NCCN Guidelines, including recommendations for managing toxicities related to chimeric antigen receptor T-cell therapy, visit NCCN.org .

Abstract Rationale Patients with malignant pleural effusions have significant dyspnea and shortened life expectancy. Indwelling pleural catheters allow patients to drain pleural fluid at home and can lead to autopleurodesis. The optimal drainage frequency to achieve autopleurodesis and freedom from catheter has not been determined. Objectives To determine whether an aggressive daily drainage strategy is superior to the current standard every other day drainage of pleural fluid in achieving autopleurodesis. Methods Patients were randomized to either an aggressive drainage (daily drainage; n = 73) or standard drainage (every other day drainage; n = 76) of pleural fluid via a tunneled pleural catheter. Measurements and Main Results The primary outcome was the incidence of autopleurodesis following the placement of the indwelling pleural catheters. The rate of autopleurodesis, defined as complete or partial response based on symptomatic and radiographic changes, was greater in the aggressive drainage arm than the standard drainage arm (47% vs. 24%, respectively; P = 0.003). Median time to autopleurodesis was shorter in the aggressive arm (54 d; 95% confidence interval, 34–83) as compared with the standard arm (90 d; 95% confidence interval, 70 to nonestimable). Rate of adverse events, quality of life, and patient satisfaction were not significantly different between the two arms. Conclusions Among patients with malignant pleural effusion, daily drainage of pleural fluid via an indwelling pleural catheter led to a higher rate of autopleurodesis and faster time to liberty from catheter. Clinical trial registered with www.clinicaltrials.gov (NCT 00978939).