Cryobiopsy in Turkey: Extreme Cold for Lung Disease Diagnosis

Turkish Doctors Use Extreme Cold to Improve Lung Disease Diagnosis

In Antalya, Akdeniz University is pioneering a minimally invasive cryobiopsy technique to diagnose serious lung diseases, often called “lung stiffening.”

Instead of traditional open surgery, doctors briefly freeze lung tissue to -70 to -100°C, then extract a small sample for testing. The procedure is faster, safer, and more comfortable — sometimes allowing patients to go home the same day.

"Cryobiopsy represents a significant leap forward in pulmonary diagnostics. By minimizing patient trauma, we can obtain high-quality tissue samples from even our most vulnerable patients, leading to faster and more accurate treatment plans," explained a leading pulmonologist at the center.

Why This New Technique Matters

The adoption of cryobiopsy offers several critical advantages over traditional surgical lung biopsy:

• Reduces risk for elderly or oxygen-dependent patients who are poor candidates for major surgery.
• Minimizes complications like infections, bleeding, or persistent air leaks (pneumothorax).
• Provides accurate diagnosis for rare and complex interstitial lung diseases (ILD).

The procedure boasts a diagnostic success rate of approximately 85%, comparable to surgical biopsy but with a significantly improved safety profile.

Availability and Impact

Currently, this advanced diagnostic tool is available in only seven specialized centers across Türkiye. The technique's introduction highlights how the Turkish medical community is rapidly integrating cutting-edge, patient-centric solutions to tackle complex health challenges.

Important Note: Cryobiopsy is a specialized procedure requiring expert interventional pulmonologists and specific equipment. It is not a first-line test and is used when standard diagnostics are inconclusive.

This innovation marks a crucial step forward in respiratory medicine, offering hope for earlier, safer, and more precise diagnosis for patients suffering from debilitating lung conditions.