Usefulness of Conventional Transbronchial Needle Aspiration for Sampling of Mediastinal Lymph Nodes in Lung Cancer.
BACKGROUND
Transbronchial needle aspiration (TBNA) is recognized as a valuable tool for the sampling of mediastinal lymph nodes. In this study, we report data about the diagnostic yield of conventional TBNA in the diagnosis and staging of lung cancer.


METHODS
All patients with suspected lung cancer who underwent bronchoscopy with conventional TBNA in the years 2008 to 2012 were evaluated. TBNA was performed on mediastinal lymph nodes enlarged at chest computed tomography scan and/or with increased fluorodeoxyglucose uptake on positron emission tomography/computed tomography scan. Cytologic results derived from TBNA have been compared, with the final diagnosis obtained with other more invasive procedures and/or with a clinical-radiologic follow-up of at least 12 months.


RESULTS
TBNA was performed on 375 patients. However, 19 patients were lost to follow-up, and data from 356 patients with a total 459 TBNA specimens were analyzed. TBNA was positive for metastatic involvement of lymph nodes in 172 of 282 patients with cancer, with a sensitivity of 61%. Sensitivity achieved 65% when we considered the total of 459 TBNA specimens. The overall diagnostic accuracy of TBNA was 69%. The nodal stations more frequently examined were 7 (subcarinal: 190 TBNAs), 4R (right lower paratracheal: 147 TBNAs), and 10R (right hilar: 76 TBNAs), with a sensitivity of 66%, 66%, and 67%, respectively.


CONCLUSIONS
Conventional TBNA remains a useful method for the diagnosis and staging of lung cancer, with a good diagnostic yield in several nodal stations.
*Bronchoscopy Unit †Pulmonary Medicine Unit ‡Pathology Department, Catholic University, Rome, Italy.
Leonello
L
Fuso
Francesco
F
Varone
Andrea
A
Smargiassi
Daniele
D
Magnini
Sara
S
Colella
Alessandro
A
Di Marco Berardino
Roberta
R
Marra
Antonino
A
Mulè
Guido
G
Rindi
Riccardo
R
Inchingolo
D000368:Aged; D001999:Bronchoscopy / Q000379:methods*; D061765:Endoscopic Ultrasound-Guided Fine Needle Aspiration / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology*; D008198:Lymph Nodes / Q000473:pathology*; D008297:Male; D008482:Mediastinum; D008875:Middle Aged; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity