title: Diagnostic yield of conventional transbronchial needle aspiration biopsy (C-TBNA) without an on-site cytopathologist: Experience of 363 procedures in 219 patients.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Conventional transbronchial needle aspiration biopsy (C-TBNA) is a technique in evaluating mediastinal/hilar lymph nodes (LN). We aimed to investigate diagnostic yield (DY) and safety of C-TBNAs performed in a single university clinic.
  
  
  METHODS
  We retrospectively reviewed 363 consecutive C-TBNA procedures in 219 patients. The DY and its relationship with location, shortest diameter, SUVmax of LN, and number of sampled stations were evaluated.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Procedures were diagnostic in 257 (71%) LNs. The most common diagnoses were malignancy (n= 109.30%) and granulomatous inflammation (n= 68, 18.7%).The ratio of patients with at least one diagnostic cytology result was 77% (n= 168). DY was significantly increased with the increased number of sampled LNs (p= 0.033) and larger LN diameter (p< 0.001). Sensitivity, specificity, positive, and negative predictive values were 83.3%, 43.2%, 79.6%, and 49.3% respectively for cut-off LN diameter of 11.5 mm. There was nearly a significant relationship between DY and SUVmax (p= 0.05, cut-off= 4.8). The highest DY was in subcarinal LN (77.4%). No major complications were recorded.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The DY of C-TBNA was 71%. The ratio of the patients with at least one diagnostic cytology result was 77%. The most common diagnoses were malignancy and granulomatous inflammation. The DY of C-TBNA was increased with the increased number of sampled LNs, larger LN diameter, and increased SUVmax. C-TBNA is a safe procedure.
authors.forename: Özge
authors.initials: Ö
authors.lastname: Öztürk
authors.affiliation: Department of Chest Diseases, Faculty of Medicine, Hacettepe University, Ankara, Turkey. asandal@hotmail.com.tr.
authors.forename: Abdulsamet
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sandal
authors.forename: Sevilay
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Karahan
authors.forename: Berrin
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Er
authors.forename: Sevgen
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Önder
authors.forename: Deniz
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Köksal
authors.forename: Emin
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Maden
authors.forename: Salih
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Emri
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D044963:Biopsy, Fine-Needle / Q000379:methods*; D001999:Bronchoscopy / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008168:Lung / Q000473:pathology; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology*; D008198:Lymph Nodes / Q000473:pathology*; D008297:Male; D008477:Mediastinal Diseases / Q000473:pathology; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity