title: Current status and clinical applicability of endobronchial ultrasound-guided transbronchial needle aspiration.
abstract: Endobronchial ultrasound-guided transbronchial needle aspiration (EBUS-TBNA) has played a key role in the diagnosis of mediastinal, paratracheal, and peribronchial lesions, as well as in lymph node staging for lung cancer. Despite its minimally invasive character, EBUS-TBNA has demonstrated a diagnostic yield comparable with that of established surgical methods. It has therefore gained credibility and has become a routine procedure at various referral centers. A successful EBUS-TBNA procedure requires careful planning, which includes a thorough review of the radiological imaging and special care during specimen collection and preparation, as well as technical expertise, experience with the procedure itself, and knowledge of the potential complications inherent to the procedure. The most common indications for EBUS-TBNA include lymph node staging for lung cancer and the diagnostic investigation of mediastinal/hilar masses and lymph node enlargement. Recently, tumor biomarkers in malignant samples collected during the EBUS-TBNA procedure have begun to be identified, and this molecular analysis has proven to be absolutely feasible. The EBUS-TBNA procedure has yet to be included on the Brazilian Medical Association list of medical procedures approved for reimbursement. The EBUS-TBNA procedure has shown to be a safe and accurate tool for lung cancer staging/restaging, as well as for the diagnosis of mediastinal, paratracheal, and peribronchial lesions/lymph node enlargement.
authors.affiliation: Department of Bronchoscopy, Instituto do Coração, Hospital das Clínicas da Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de São Paulo - InCor/HC-FMUSP, Heart Institute/University of São Paulo School of Medicine Hospital das Clínicas - São Paulo, Brazil. vivianerossifigueiredo@gmail.com
authors.forename: Viviane Rossi
authors.initials: VR
authors.lastname: Figueiredo
authors.forename: Márcia
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Jacomelli
authors.forename: Ascédio José
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Rodrigues
authors.forename: Mauro
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Canzian
authors.forename: Paulo Francisco Guerreiro
authors.initials: PF
authors.lastname: Cardoso
authors.forename: Fábio Biscegli
authors.initials: FB
authors.lastname: Jatene
mesh_terms: D001980:Bronchi / Q000473:pathology*; D001999:Bronchoscopy / Q000379:methods / Q000592:standards* / Q000639:trends; D061765:Endoscopic Ultrasound-Guided Fine Needle Aspiration / Q000379:methods / Q000592:standards* / Q000639:trends; D006801:Humans; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology*; D008198:Lymph Nodes / Q000473:pathology*; D009367:Neoplasm Staging