Chest
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The current approaches for tissue diagnosis of a solitary pulmonary nodule are transthoracic needle aspiration, guided bronchoscopy, or surgical resection. The choice of procedure is driven by patient and radiographic factors, risks, and benefits. We describe a new approach to the diagnosis of a solitary pulmonary nodule, namely bronchoscopic transparenchymal nodule access (BTPNA). ⋯ We describe a new approach to accessing lesions in the lung parenchyma. BTPNA allows bronchoscopic creation of a direct path with a sheath placed in proximity to the target, creating the potential to deliver biopsy tools within a lesion to acquire tissue. The technology appears safe. Further experiments are needed to assess the diagnostic yield of this procedure in animals and, if promising, to assess this technology in humans.