Evaluation of mediastinal lymph nodes with endobronchial ultrasound-guided transbronchial needle aspiration (EBUS-TBNA): a retrospective study

Abstract

Background and objective: Endobronchial ultrasound-guided transbronchial needle aspiration (EBUS-TBNA) is a safe and minimally invasive procedure that yields accurate results in the evaluation of mediastinal lymphadenopathies. The aim of our study was to retrospectively evaluate EBUS-TBNA procedures performed in our clinic and to reveal the value of EBUS-TBNA in terms of mediastinal lymph node diagnoses. Methods: A total of 52 patients with mediastinal lymph node enlargement (short axis >1 cm) who underwent thoracic computed tomography and EBUS-TBNA were retrospectively included in this study. Results: The mean age of the patients was 51.3 +/- 15.5 (range: 18-74) years and there were 23 (44.2%) females and 29 (55.8%) males. The sizes of the sampled lymph nodes ranged from 10 mm to 30 mm. Of the 52 patients who underwent EBUS-TBNA, 43 (82.7%) had a final diagnosis. Mediastinoscopy was performed in nine (17.3%) patients who reached a negative cytological outcome. As a final diagnosis, sarcoidosis was found in 23 patients, tuberculosis in 3 patients, squamous cell lung cancer in 6 patients, small cell lung cancer in 9 patients, lung adenocarcinoma in 1 patient and a benign diagnosis in 10 cases. No complications were observed in any of the cases. Conclusion: TBNA is a safe interventional procedure under EBUS guidance that provides a high adequacy and diagnostic rate for mediastinal lymph nodes and reduces the need for invasive surgery.