title: EBUS-TBNA/staging of lung cancer.
abstract: In the staging of mediastinal lymph nodes before lung cancer surgery, endobronchial ultrasound transbronchial needle aspirations (EBUS-TBNA) have proven to be highly sensitive and specific as well as safe. Although positron emission tomography/computed tomography (PET/CT) has been a major development in the preoperative workup of patients with lung cancer, EBUS-TBNA has superior test performance and PET/CT cannot be regarded as a substitute for tissue sampling with EBUS-TBNA. In general, EBUS-TBNA staging is needed for any patient with CT nodes greater than 1 cm in short axis, or PET-positive mediastinal nodes.
authors.affiliation: Department of Thoracic Medicine, Royal Brisbane and Women's Hospital, Butterfield Street, Herston, Queensland 4029, Australia. david_fielding@health.qld.gov.au
authors.forename: David I
authors.initials: DI
authors.lastname: Fielding
authors.forename: Noriaki
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Kurimoto
mesh_terms: D001707:Biopsy, Needle / Q000379:methods; D019160:Endosonography / Q000379:methods; D006801:Humans; D008168:Lung / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology; D008198:Lymph Nodes / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis; D009367:Neoplasm Staging / Q000379:methods*; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity
keywords: Endobronchial ultrasound; Lung cancer; Positron emission tomography/computed tomography; Transbronchial needle aspiration