Endosonography for left adrenal gland assessment in lung cancer patients – 10 years experience

Abstract

Introduction: In staged lung cancer patients (LCP) left adrenal glands (LAG) suspected for distant metastases (M1b/c) based on CT or PET-CT require further invasive evaluation. Only few studies have shown utility of EUS-FNA and particularly EUS-b-FNA as minimally invasive endoscopic methods for LAG analysis. Methods: A single center retrospective study in consecutive LCP was performed from 2009 to 2019. Following complete minimally invasive mediastinal staging by use of single ultrasound bronchoscope EBUS or two scopes, the enlarged LAG (body size>10mm) was examined and sampled by EUS-b-FNA or EUS-FNA. Results: From 2596 LCP staged by complete endosonography, 142 (5.5%) of them (M: 88, F:54, mean age 64.7) had enlarged LAG and were biopsied by conventional EUS-FNA in 52 (36.6%) and by EUS-b-FNA in 90 (63.4%). Metastases were found in 73/142 (51.4%) of biopsied LAGs. Strong correlation with gland diameter (P Conclusions: After our study EUS-b-FNA seems to be a method of choice for LAG analysis in LCP.