The Application Value and Safety of Ultrafine Bronchoscopy Combined with Frozen Lung Biopsy in the Diagnosis of Peripheral Pulmonary Nodules.

A definitive histopathological diagnosis was achieved in 48 of 60 cases, yielding an overall diagnostic rate of 80%.

Cryobiopsy specimens were significantly larger (5.2 ± 1.1 mm vs 2.1 ± 0.7 mm) with p < 0.05 and had less crush artifact (92% vs 58%).

Malignancy was diagnosed in 34 patients (56.7%), with adenocarcinoma being the most common.

Complication rates were low; pneumothorax occurred in 2 cases (3.3%) and moderate bleeding in 5 cases (8.3%), all managed conservatively.