State-of-the art endoscopic imaging in lung cancer: should specialties collide or concur?
Endoscopic ultrasound has been recently established as a routine diagnostic and staging procedure in lung cancer patients, mainly because of the possibility of tissue sampling. Transesophageal endoscopic ultrasound-guided fine needle aspiration (EUS-FNA) represents a method which not only allows the visualization of the upper gastrointestinal tract, but also offers good visualisation of the posterior and inferior mediastinum. Endobronchial ultrasound-guided transbronchial needle aspiration (EBUS-TBNA) permits the assessment of the tumors in the anterior mediastinum. Based on previously published literature, it is obvious that this minimally invasive procedure now offers the possibility of tissue diagnosis in mediastinal masses including primary tumours or secondary lesions from both benign and malignant diseases.
Ioncica
Ana Maria
AM
Research Center of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Pulmonology Department, Victor Babeş Infectious Diseases Hospital, 2-4 Petru Rares str., Craiova, 200349 Romania.
Malos
Anca
A
Crisan
Emilia
E
Popescu
Carmen
C
Saftoiu
Adrian
A
Ciurea
Tudorel
T
D044963:Biopsy, Fine-Needle; D001999:Bronchoscopy; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D017548:Echocardiography, Transesophageal; D019160:Endosonography; D006801:Humans; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D018084:Ultrasonography, Interventional