Abstract
The advent of shape-sensing robotic-assisted bronchoscopy (SSRAB) and its combination with integrated mobile cone beam CT (mCBCT) have made it possible for chest clinicians to biopsy smaller lung nodules than was previously possible. The 1.1 mm cryoprobe (Erbe, Tuebingen, Germany) can be deployed through the SSRAB catheter and produces larger biopsies than conventional forceps. We present three cases where tumors <10 mm in diameter were biopsied with the 1.1 mm cryoprobe via SSRAB, such that no residual tumor could be found at the biopsy site in the subsequent surgical resection specimens. We discuss the potential relevance of this newly-described phenomenon and propose the name Tumor Microscopically-absent On Resection Specimen After Bronchoscopic Cryobiopsy: TuMORS-ABC.