Michele Anzidei MD, Presenter: Nothing to Disclose

Renato Argiro, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Andrea Porfiri MD, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Fabrizio Boni, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Mario Bezzi MD, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Carlo Catalano MD, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

To evaluate the clinical performance of a robotic system for CT-guided biopsy of lung lesions in comparison to the conventional manual technique.

100 patients (63 males, 37 females, age range 48-88 years, mean age 65 +/-4 years) referred for CT-guided lung biopsy of previously diagnosed lung lesions were randomly assigned to group A (robot-assisted procedure with the ROBIO™ EX system, Perfint Healthcare - India) or group B (conventional procedure). Biopsies were performed by two operators with 2 and 8 years of experience. The size, distance from entry point and position in lung of target lesions were evaluated to assess potential homogeneity differences between the two groups. Procedure duration, dose length product (DLP), precision of needle positioning, diagnostic performance of the biopsy, rate of complications and operator preference were evaluated for significant differences between the two groups to assess the clinical performance of the robotic system as compared to the conventional technique.

All biopsies were successfully performed. The size (p=0.41), distance from entry point (p=0.86) and position in lung (p=0.32) of target lesions were similar in both groups (p=0.05). Procedure duration and radiation dose were significantly reduced in group A as compared to group B (p=0.001). Precision of needle positioning, diagnostic performance of the biopsy and rate of complications were similar in both groups (p=0.05). 

Robot-assisted CT-guided lung biopsy can be performed safely and with high diagnostic accuracy, reducing procedure duration and radiation dose in comparison to the conventional manual technique.

CLINICAL RELEVANCE: The precision in lesions targeting, the diagnostic performance of the biopsy sampling and the rate of complications in the robot-assisted procedures were superimposable to those of conventional biopsies. The use of the robot significantly reduced procedure duration and radiation dose in comparison to the unassisted technique.  APPLICATION: Operators with different levels of experience may benefit from robot assistance in daily clinical routine, but the use of interventional robotic systems will be probably even more beneficial in clinical settings in which less expert, non-interventional operators perform simple imaging-guided procedures.

Anzidei, M, Argiro, R, Porfiri, A, Boni, F, Bezzi, M, Catalano, C, Preliminary Clinical Experience with a Dedicated Interventional Robotic System for CT-guided Biopsies of Lung Lesions: A Comparison with the Conventional Manual Technique.  Radiological Society of North America 2014 Scientific Assembly and Annual Meeting, - ,Chicago IL. http://archive.rsna.org/2014/14008499.html