ObjectiveTo investigate the diagnostic value and safety of electromagnetic navigation bronchoscopy combined with radial endobronchial ultrasound in peripheral pulmonary nodules.MethodsThe clinical imaging, surgical and pathological data of 60 patients with 76 peripheral pulmonary nodules who underwent electromagnetic navigation bronchoscopy combined with radial endobronchial ultrasound guided biopsy in the Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital, The Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing University Medical School from June 2020 to June 2021 were retrospectively analyzed. The diagnosis rate and complications were analyzed and summarized. The 76 pulmonary nodules were divided into a small pulmonary nodules group (10 nodules, diameter≤1 cm) and a pulmonary nodules group (1 cm<diameter≤3 cm, 66 nodules) according to diameter. The two groups were compared in terms of operation and diagnosis rate.ResultsPulmonary nodules diameter was 1.8±0.6 cm, operation time 29.8±8.6 min, navigation 2.9±0.9 times, biopsy 9.5±1.9 pieces. In the 76 pulmonary nodules, 55 were confirmed by pathology, with a total diagnosis rate of 72.4%, including 32 of malignant lesions and 23 of benign lesions. In the 76 pulmonary nodules, 59 had grade 0 hemorrhage, 17 had grade 1 hemorrhage, and none had grade 2 or more serious hemorrhage. Eight patients developed pneumothorax after surgery, and the degree of lung compression was less than 30%, which was improved after symptomatic treatment with oxygen inhalation. The operation time in the small pulmonary nodules group was significantly longer than that in the pulmonary nodules group, and there was no significant difference in diagnosis rate or complications between the two groups.ConclusionElectromagnetic navigation bronchoscopy combined with radial endobronchial ultrasound is a safe and effective method for the diagnosis of periphery pulmonary nodules, and it also has a high diagnostic rate for small pulmonary nodules (≤1 cm), which is worthy of clinical promotion and application.