Endobronchial ultrasound guided transbronchial needle aspiration for staging of lung cancer

In 105 patients, EBUS-TBNA was successfully performed to obtain samples from 163 lymph nodes. With respect to the correct prediction of lymph node stage, EBUS-TBNA had a sensitivity of 94.6%, specificity of 100%, positive predictive value of 100%, negative predictive value of 89.5%, and diagnostic accuracy rate of 96.3%. In the 20 suspected lung cancer cases, mediastinal lymph node was used for tissue diagnosis of malignancy as well as staging. As a result of EBUS-TBNA, 29 mediastinoscopies, 8 thoracotomies, 4 thoracoscopies, and 9 CT-guided PCNB were avoided. The procedure was uneventful without complications. EBUS-TBNA is a safe and sensitive method for lymph node staging in patients with lung cancer. It spares invasive staging procedures which has a major impact on patient management.