Transbronchial fine needle aspiration cytology in the diagnosis of mediastinal/hilar sarcoidosis.
OBJECTIVE
The diagnostic value of transbronchial/transtracheal fine needle aspiration (TBFNA) cytology in the patients with mediastinal and/or hilar lymphadenopathy has been investigated.


METHODS
Out of 116 patients with mediastinal/hilar lymphadenopathy, the diagnosis of sarcoidosis was established in 88 (75.9%). One hundred and seventy-one TBFNAs from different lymph node stations were performed using a cytological 26-gauge needle. Adequate lymph node samples were obtained in 157 of 171 (91.8%) TBFNA and 14 of 171 (8.2%) TBFNA samples were inadequate.


RESULTS
Cytological findings consistent with sarcoidosis were found in 79 of 88 (89.77%) patients and 133 of 157 (84.71%) samples. The sensitivity of TBFNA cytology in sarcoidosis presenting as mediastinal/hilar lymphadenopathy was 78.7%, specificity 92.3%.


CONCLUSIONS
Overall diagnostic accuracy of TBFNA cytology in the diagnosis of sarcoidosis was 86.2%, and cytological findings consistent with sarcoidosis were the only morphological diagnosis of sarcoidosis in 63.6% of patients.
Smojver-Jezek
S
S
Department of Cytology, University Hospital for Lung Disease Jordanovac, Zagreb, Croatia. ssmojver@pbf.hr
Peros-Golubicić
T
T
Tekavec-Trkanjec
J
J
Mazuranić
I
I
Alilović
M
M
D000328:Adult; D044963:Biopsy, Fine-Needle / Q000379:methods*; D001980:Bronchi / Q000473:pathology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008206:Lymphatic Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000473:pathology*; D008297:Male; D008477:Mediastinal Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000473:pathology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D012507:Sarcoidosis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000473:pathology*