title: Transbronchial needle aspiration in routine fiberoptic bronchoscopy.
abstract: The objective of this study was to evaluate the yield of transbronchial needle aspiration (TBNA) in a clinical routine setting of a teaching hospital for the diagnosis and staging of bronchogenic carcinoma in comparison to the results of controlled clinical studies. We reviewed our results with Wang retractable needle catheters during a 9-month period. The needle catheters were used in 72 patients. 43 patients had a final diagnosis of bronchogenic carcinoma. Classical bronchial washes, brushings and forceps biopsies led to the diagnosis in 28 patients (65%). The addition of TBNA increased the diagnostic yield by 14% (6 patients) to 79% overall. In 32 patients staging of mediastinal lymph nodes was attempted. Positive TBNA proved inoperability in 9 patients. In 7 patients TBNA was used to investigate peripheral masses. Two patients had a malignant tumor, of which one was diagnosed by TBNA. Overall, TBNA revealed important information with clinical consequences in 16 of 72 patients (22%). There were no complications. We conclude that TBNA significantly increases the diagnostic yield of fiberoptic bronchoscopy and carries only a minimal risk. Our results, obtained in the clinical routine setting of a teaching hospital, are comparable to the reported results of controlled studies.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, University Clinic Basel, Switzerland.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Salathé
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Solèr
authors.forename: C T
authors.initials: CT
authors.lastname: Bolliger
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Dalquen
authors.forename: A P
authors.initials: AP
authors.lastname: Perruchoud
mesh_terms: D001707:Biopsy, Needle / Q000379:methods*; D001999:Bronchoscopy; D002283:Carcinoma, Bronchogenic / Q000473:pathology*; D002404:Catheterization / Q000295:instrumentation; D005069:Evaluation Studies as Topic; D006801:Humans; D008168:Lung / Q000473:pathology*; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology*; D009339:Needles; D009367:Neoplasm Staging