Differences in diagnostic performance between single-use and reusable cryoprobes for peripheral pulmonarly lesions

We previously reported that the addition of cryobiopsy improved the diagnostic yield of peripheral pulmonary lesions (PPLs), but also the limitation of reusable probes alone. Recently introduced single-use probes may overcome it, but it has not been evaluated whether the data accumulated with reusable probes can be extrapolated. From our multicenter registry study, all patients who underwent cryobiopsy for PPLs at two institutions between 2019 and July 2023 were extracted. Cases with certain benign pathology findings but with untraceable or immature course were excluded. The rest were divided into single-use and reusable groups based on the cryoprobe used. After aligning background factors by propensity score matching, differences in diagnostic performance were compared between the two groups. In total, 1,040 cases were included in the analysis: 584 in the single-use and 456 in the reusable groups. The single-use group had more older patients, smaller lesions, and lesions at outer area. Through the matching, 380 cases each were selected, and all factors were balanced between both matched (m)-groups. The diagnostic yield in the m-single-use group was comparable to that in the m-reusable group (87.9% vs. 90.5%, <italic>p</italic>=0.242), as well as the major complication rates (2.4% vs. 3.7%, <italic>p</italic>=0.288). Factors affecting the overall higher yield involved larger, positive broncus sign, and radiographically visible lesions. Meanwhile, the mean procedure time was significanty shorter in the m-single-use group (28.9±10.2 min. vs. 31.3±10.0 min., <italic>p</italic>=0.001). In conclusion, single-use cryoprobes would allow for efficient diagnostic procedures for PPLs while maintaining the high diagnostic yield.