title: EBUS-TBNA in mediastinal/hilar lymphadenopathies and/or masses: an Italian case series.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Transbronchial needle aspiration (TBNA) is an established method to diagnose hilar/mediastinal lymphadenopathies and/or masses. Real-time endobronchial ultrasound (EBUS) is a method that involves TBNA, and has been shown to increase the diagnostic yield in this context.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  A descriptive study has been conducted to test real-time EBUS in the diagnosis of hilar-mediastinal lymphadenopathies/masses with a shorter diameter less then 2.5 cm or with a previous negative 'blind' TBNA.
  
  
  METHODS
  Consecutive patients referred for EBUS-TBNA of hilar/mediastinal lymph nodes were included in the study, when a node or mass was detected on a chest computed tomography scan. The primary end point was the number of successful biopsy specimens. Lymph node stations were classified according to the American Thoracic Society scheme.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Ninety-four patients (66 males, 28 females) of mean age 62 years (range: 17-86) underwent EBUS-TBNA: EBUS-TBNA could be performed in all patients. The procedure was diagnostic in 80 patients (89.4%); positive samples were 73 (52 lung cancer, 18 sarcoidosis and 3 tuberculosis), negative samples were 17, inadequate specimens were obtained in four patients (4.25%) and surgically proven false negative results were found in six cases (6.38%). Biopsy specimens were taken from lymph nodes in region 2L (1 case), 2R (5 cases), 4R (20 cases), 4L (7 cases), 7 (47 cases), 10R (9 cases), 10L (2 cases), 11R (6 cases) and 11L (3 cases). Sensitivity was 92.4%, and specificity was 100%. No complications occurred.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  EBUS-TBNA is a safe and reliable method for sampling mediastinal lymph nodes.
authors.affiliation: Interventional Pulmonology, Pierantoni-Morgagni Hospital, Forlì, Italy.
authors.forename: Carlo
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Gurioli
authors.forename: Claudia
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Ravaglia
authors.forename: Micaela
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Romagnoli
authors.forename: Gianluca
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Casoni
authors.forename: Sara
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Tomassetti
authors.forename: Oriana
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Nanni
authors.forename: Venerino
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Poletti
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D044963:Biopsy, Fine-Needle / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis; D008198:Lymph Nodes / Q000473:pathology*; D008223:Lymphoma / Q000175:diagnosis; D008297:Male; D008482:Mediastinum / Q000473:pathology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D017565:Sarcoidosis, Pulmonary / Q000175:diagnosis; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D014397:Tuberculosis, Pulmonary / Q000175:diagnosis; D018084:Ultrasonography, Interventional; D055815:Young Adult