title: Endobronchial Ultrasound-Guided Transbronchial Needle Aspiration: A Pilot Study to Evaluate the Utility of the ProCore Biopsy Needle for Lymph Node Sampling.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The ProCore ultrasound biopsy needle, used primarily to obtain intra-abdominal tissue core biopsies, has not been widely used for endobronchial ultrasound-guided transbronchial needle aspiration (EBUS-TBNA). In this pilot study we evaluated the utility of the ProCore needle for sampling mediastinal or hilar lymph nodes during EBUS-TBNA.
  
  
  METHODS
  Thirty-two patients were identified using both ProCore and conventional fine-needle aspiration (FNA) needles for sampling mediastinal or hilar lymph nodes (the study group). Another 33 patients underwent EBUS-TBNA using an FNA needle only (the control group). Specimen satisfactory rates were compared between the study and control groups. Aspirate smears and cell blocks were evaluated for the cellularity of lesional cells and bronchial contamination in a subset of patients in the study group.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Overall, the ProCore needle did not show additive value to specimen adequacy when comparing the satisfactory rates of the study and control groups (94 vs. 89%). The ProCore needle also did not procure significantly more lesional cells than the FNA needle.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our experience shows that the ProCore needle does not provide additive value when performing an FNA of mediastinal or hilar lymph nodes. The evaluation of more cases with this new technique is necessary to better determine the clinical utility of using ProCore during EBUS-TBNA.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Pittsburgh, Pa., USA.
authors.forename: Juan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Xing
authors.forename: Steven
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Manos
authors.forename: Sara E
authors.initials: SE
authors.lastname: Monaco
authors.forename: David O
authors.initials: DO
authors.lastname: Wilson
authors.forename: Liron
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Pantanowitz
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D044963:Biopsy, Fine-Needle; D001980:Bronchi / Q000473:pathology*; D001999:Bronchoscopy / Q000379:methods; D061765:Endoscopic Ultrasound-Guided Fine Needle Aspiration / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D061705:Image-Guided Biopsy / Q000379:methods; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology; D008198:Lymph Nodes / Q000473:pathology*; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis / Q000473:pathology*; D008297:Male; D008482:Mediastinum / Q000473:pathology; D008875:Middle Aged; D009367:Neoplasm Staging / Q000379:methods; D010865:Pilot Projects; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014463:Ultrasonography / Q000379:methods