Feasibility of Confocal Laser Microscopy in CT-Guided Needle Biopsy of Pulmonary and Mediastinal Tumors: A Proof-of-Concept Pilot Study

This report describes the use of confocal laser microscopy (CLM) with CT-guided transthoracic needle biopsy (TTNB) for the diagnosis of heterogeneous large mediastinal and lung tumors. The procedure was performed in five patients diagnosed with a mediastinal mass and five patients diagnosed with a lung mass. CLM was used before CT-guided TTNB. Fluorescein administration allowed for the identification of blood vessels in both locations. Malignant cells were identified in mediastinal masses. Complications included one case of pneumothorax. In large tumors, CLM allows vascularized tissue to be differentiated from necrotic and fibrotic areas before biopsy.