The clinical application of endobronchial ultrasound-guided transbronchial needle aspiration (EBUS-TBNA) for staging of lung cancer

Abstract

Objective To determine the value of endobronchial ultrasound-guided transbronchial needle aspiration (EBUS-TBNA) for staging of lung cancer. Methods The study was retrospective, a total of 52 patients underwent EBUSTBNA for known or suspected lung cancer. All patients were detected enlarged mediastinal lymph nodes on CT scan ( ≥ 1.0cm). Results Of the 52 patients, 41 patients were found with N2 or N3 disease on EBUS-TBNA. 11 patients with negative EBUS-TBNA underwent thoracoscopy or thoracotomy for pulmonary resection and mediastinal lymph node dissection, 9 patients were confirmed N0 by pathology, whereas 2 patients had metastatic lymph node. The diagnostic sensitivity, specificity, accuracy, positive predictive value and negative predictive value of EBUS-TBNA for the mediastinal staging of lung cancer were 95.3%, 100%, 96.2%, 100%, and 81.8%, respectively. The procedure was uneventful, and there were no postoperative complications. Conclusion EBUS-TBNA is an effective and safe technique for mediastinal staging in lung cancer patients. Key words: Bronchi; Endosonography; Biopsy,needle; Lung neoplasms; Neoplasm staging