title: EBUS-TBNA in patients presented with superior vena cava syndrome.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Expedient pathological diagnosis is crucial in selection of appropriate treatment in patients presented with superior vena cava syndrome (SVCS). The performance and safety of endobronchial ultrasound-guided transbronchial needle aspiration (EBUS-TBNA) in this setting is unknown.
  
  
  METHODS
  Over a 4-year period, patients presented with SVCS in the presence of mediastinal mass and referred for EBUS-TBNA were enrolled for the study. The procedure was performed under local anaesthesia with conscious sedation. TBNA was performed under real-time with the curvilinear probe of EBUS. Rapid on site cytological examination (ROSE) was not available.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Eighteen procedures of EBUS-TBNA were performed in 17 patients. Malignancy was confirmed in 16 patients (diagnostic yield 94.1%). There was no major complication including significant bleeding or pneumothorax related to the procedures.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  EBUS-TBNA has high diagnostic yield and is safe in patients presented with SVCS and mediastinal mass.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Queen Mary Hospital, Hong Kong.
authors.forename: Matthew K
authors.initials: MK
authors.lastname: Wong
authors.forename: Terence C
authors.initials: TC
authors.lastname: Tam
authors.forename: David C
authors.initials: DC
authors.lastname: Lam
authors.forename: Mary S
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Ip
authors.forename: James C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Ho
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D001707:Biopsy, Needle; D001980:Bronchi / Q000473:pathology*; D001999:Bronchoscopy / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D013479:Superior Vena Cava Syndrome / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology; D018084:Ultrasonography, Interventional / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods*