title: Diagnostic value of endobronchial ultrasound guided transbronchial needle aspiration in superior vena cava syndrome.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The pathological diagnosis is of critical importance to the subsequent treatment for the pathients with superior vena cava syndrome (SVCS). The aim of this study is to report our experience in the diagnosis of SVCS by endobronchial ultrasound guided transbronchial needle aspiration (EBUS-TBNA).
  
  
  METHODS
  The data of 520 patients who underwent EBUS-TBNA from September 2009 to May 2012 at our institution were reviewed. Of these, there were 14 males and 6 females (mean age of 59.1 years) with SVCS who received EBUS-TBNA that were included in the analysis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The mean short axis diameter of the paratracheal lesions was (3.32 ± 1.79) cm (range, 1.69 to 9.50 cm) and 6 cases also had subcarinal lymph node enlargement with a mean short axis diameter of (2.14 ± 0.49) cm (range, 1.73 to 3.01 cm). An average of 4.3 punctures was performed per lesion. Malignancy was confirmed in 16 cases (10 small cell carcinomas, 4 adenocarcinomas, 1 squamous cell carcinoma and 1 Hodgkin lymphoma). In two patients, pathological examination of tissue revealed no evidence of malignancy and for 13 to 24 months of follow-up. One patient from whom adequate tissue was not obtained refused further surgical biopsy since he had undergone endovascular stenting of the SVC. One patient in whom a diagnosis was not obtained by EBUS-TBNA underwent thoracoscopic biopsy and the final diagnosis was B cell non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. The diagnosis accuracy of EBUS-TBNA in SVCS was 18/20 patients.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  EBUS-TBNA is a highly effective and safe procedure for the diagnosis of SVCS.
authors.affiliation: Department of Thoracic Surgery, Peking University People's Hospital, Beijing 100044, China.
authors.forename: Zu-li
authors.initials: ZL
authors.lastname: Zhou
authors.forename: Hui
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Zhao
authors.forename: Yun
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Xi-zhao
authors.initials: XZ
authors.lastname: Sui
authors.forename: Zhen
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Xie
authors.forename: Ke-zhong
authors.initials: KZ
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Feng
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: Feng-wei
authors.initials: FW
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Jun
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Hong-fang
authors.initials: HF
authors.lastname: Zheng
authors.forename: Jun
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Wang
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D044963:Biopsy, Fine-Needle; D001999:Bronchoscopy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D061705:Image-Guided Biopsy; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D013479:Superior Vena Cava Syndrome / Q000175:diagnosis*