Fig. 1

The flow of navigation and TBLC procedure for patients in the ENB group. A portion of the Extended Working Channel (EWC) tip would be cut off to allow passage of the 1.9 mm cryoprobe (A). The electromagnetic navigation probe with a position sensor at the tip was placed through EWC (B). In the electromagnetic field, used the navigation probe to guide the flexible bronchoscope, and the EWC placed in the working channel to the pre-set biopsy site (C). Once navigation is complete, withdraw the navigation probe and position the cryoprobe through the EWC into the target biopsy site (D). After cryoprobe placement, CBCT scanning was performed to determine if the cryoprobe position was ideal (E). TBLC was performed to obtain lung tissue specimens after confirming that the cryoprobe was in the proper position (F)