The diagnostic work-up of diffuse parenchymal lung disease needs identification of the morphological aspects in a significant minority of patients. Surgical lung biopsy is considered the most efficient method to reach the goal so far. However it is associated to a significant incidence of morbidity and mortality mainly when the definite diagnosis will be Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis (IPF) or in elderly.

Transbronchial cryobiopsy is a new bioptic approach in subjects with diffuse parenchymal lung disease that is gaining consideration in the scientific community. Its safety profile is significantly better than that of surgical lung biopsy and its sensitivity and specifity appear very good especially in patients with IPF. Recent studies and documents have defined, at least in part, modalities by which cryobiopsies should be taken out, its safety profile and the clinical role of this technique in the diagnostic work-up of patient with diffuse parenchymal lung disease.

In this Course the technical aspects of transbronchial cryobiopsy, recommended standards of the technique, its diagnostic role will be presented and discussed.

Venerino Poletti, Stefano Gasparini