[Usefulness of radial endobronchial ultrasound-guided transbronchial needle aspiration for the diagnosis of mediastinal lymph nodes].
BACKGROUND
Transbronchial needle aspiration (TBNA) is a bronchoscopic technique that has been shown to be useful for sampling enlarged mediastinal lymph nodes. The yield of this technique can be increased by using endobronchial ultrasound (EBUS) to guide needle placement. The aim of the present study was to compare the yield of radial EBUS-guided TBNA to that of conventional TBNA in the analysis of mediastinal lymph nodes.


METHODS
All patients undergoing either EBUS-guided or conventional TBNA for the diagnosis of mediastinal lymph nodes between January 2006 and May 2007 were studied consecutively. Histology results were used as a reference standard in the patients treated surgically. In cases in which surgery was not indicated, the results of cytology or of clinical follow-up of at least 6 months duration were used.


RESULTS
TBNA was performed in 117 patients, and a total of 143 lymph nodes were punctured (mean shortest [SD] diameter, 17.9 [8]mm). The samples obtained were diagnostic in 58 patients (49.6%) and in 70 lymph nodes (49.0%). For paratracheal and hilar stations, the yield of radial EBUS-guided TBNA was superior to that of conventional TBNA (59.2% compared to 34.1%, P=.02).


CONCLUSIONS
Radial EBUS guidance increases the diagnostic yield of TBNA in paratracheal and hilar lymph node stations.
Sánchez-Font
Albert
A
Servei de Pneumologia, Hospital del Mar-IMIM, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Universitat Pompeu Fabra, CIBER de Enfermedades Respiratorias, Barcelona, España. ASanchezF@imas.imim.es
Curull
Víctor
V
Vollmer
Iván
I
Pijuan
Lara
L
Gayete
Angel
A
Gea
Joaquim
J