title: Modified technique for obtaining mediastinal samples with endobronchial ultrasound-guided transbronchial needle aspiration: results from a prospective observational study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Endobronchial ultrasound-guided transbronchial needle aspiration (EBUS-TBNA) is a widely-accepted method for obtaining both benign and malignant mediastinal lymph node samples. We present the results obtained with a modification that simplifies sampling, known as fine-needle capillary sampling or EBUS-FNC.
  
  
  METHODS
  A prospective observational study with 44 consecutive patients who underwent EBUS at the University of Navarra Clinic in Pamplona (Spain). All samples were obtained by EBUS-FNC instead of by conventional EBUS-TBNA. No suction was used, and the internal stylus was not completely withdrawn at any time.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The examination of the mediastinum by means of EBUS identified the presence of lymphadenopathies or mediastinal masses in 38 patients (86.4%). Samples were taken from more than one lymph node in 23 patients (52.3%). EBUS-FNC provided adequate and representative material for interpretation in all patients, and diagnostic performance was 87%. Sensitivity for the detection of lung cancer with EBUS-FNC was 84%. Mild complications were only recorded in two patients (4.5%).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our study suggests that EBUS-FNC is a safe technique, comparable to EBUS-TBNA in efficacy, and is able to obtain adequate samples.
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Neumología, Universidad Nacional de Colombia, Bogotá, Colombia.
authors.forename: Fredy
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Rodríguez
authors.forename: Luis M
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Seijo
authors.forename: Pablo A
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: Sánchez
authors.forename: Javier J
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Zulueta
mesh_terms: D044963:Biopsy, Fine-Needle / Q000379:methods*; D001999:Bronchoscopy; D019160:Endosonography; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D061705:Image-Guided Biopsy; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology*; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis; D008297:Male; D008482:Mediastinum / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D018084:Ultrasonography, Interventional