Abstract
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study is to evaluate diagnostic yield and the safety of endobronchial ultrasound-guided transbronchial needle aspiration (EBUS-TBNA) in the diagnosis ofbronchogenic carcinoma. METHODS: Between July, 2009 and February, 2010, 95 patients with mediastinal/hilar lymphadenopathy and/or intrathoracic peritracheal or peribronchial masses previously detected with CT scan underwent EBUS-TBNA. No rapid onsite cytology was performed. RESULTS: In all 95 patients, 60 cases were newly diagnosed lung cancer through the pathological examination and clinical follow-up certification. In 60 lung cancer cases, 112 samples were obtained from lymph nodes (LNs) and 11 samples were obtained from intrapulmonary lesions. Fifty-eight cases of patients were diagnosed, false negative in 2 cases. Sensitivity and specificity of EBUS-guided TBNA method in distinguishing benign from malignant LNs or thoracic masses were 96.67% and 100%, respectively. There was any major complication in this series, the procedure was uneventful. CONCLUSION: EBUSTBNA seemed a safe and effective technique in making bronchogenic carcinoma diagnosis for mediastinal/hilar LNs and intra-pulmonary masses.