Robotic-Assisted Versus Conventional Bronchoscopy for Cryobiopsy in the Diagnosis of Interstitial Lung Disease

Recruiting now · Not applicable

Conditions studied: Interstitial Lung Disease (ILD), Lung Biopsy

In brief

Interstitial lung disease (ILD) often requires histopathological confirmation when high-resolution computed tomography (HRCT) findings are inconclusive. Transbronchial lung cryobiopsy has emerged as a less invasive alternative to surgical lung biopsy, but diagnostic yield remains variable and dependent on biopsy location and procedural precision. Robotic-assisted bronchoscopy (RAB) combined with cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) may allow more precise navigation to target lung segments and potentially improve biopsy quality and diagnostic yield. This multi-center, investigator-initiated randomized controlled trial will compare conventional bronchoscopy with 2D fluoroscopy guidance versus robotic-assisted bronchoscopy with CBCT guidance for transbronchial lung cryobiopsy in patients undergoing diagnostic evaluation for suspected interstitial lung disease. Participants will be randomized in a 1:1 ratio to undergo either conventional bronchoscopy or robotic-assisted bronchoscopy. In both groups, four cryobiopsies will be obtained from two lung lobes using a 1.7 mm cryoprobe (en-bloc removal for both study arms). The primary endpoint is the rate of definitive histological diagnosis as determined by a blinded multidisciplinary ILD board.

Key facts

Study ID

NCT07500818

Run by

University of Zurich

People needed

30

Starts

2026-02-01

Expected to finish

2027-09-01

Last updated by the study team

2026-03-30

Who can join

Age: any. Sex: any. Healthy volunteers: not accepted.

You may qualify if…

• Age ≥18 years
• Clinical suspicion of interstitial lung disease requiring histological confirmation
• Non-diagnostic HRCT pattern (e.g. probable UIP or indeterminate pattern)
• Candidate for transbronchial lung cryobiopsy
• Ability to provide informed consent

You may not qualify if…

• Definite UIP pattern on HRCT
• Severe pulmonary hypertension
• Severe hypoxemia contraindicating bronchoscopy
• Coagulopathy or contraindication to biopsy
• Pregnancy
• Inability to provide informed consent

Where it is running

• Cantonal Hospital of Lucerne — Lucerne, Canton of Lucerne, Switzerland (enrolling)
• University Hospital Zurich — Zurich, Canton of Zurich, Switzerland (enrolling)

Full record on ClinicalTrials.gov

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