Background
The diagnostic accuracy of endobronchial ultrasound-guided transbronchial needle aspiration for the diagnosis of isolated
mediastinal lymphadenopathy in patients with previous malignancy is not well defined. Positron emission tomography scanning
has been proven to be a significant advance, but false-positive results are common.
The purpose of this prospective and controlled study was to assess the yield of endobronchial ultrasound-guided transbronchial
needle aspiration to reveal mediastinal lymph node metastases in patients with previous malignancy and possible mediastinal
involvement on computed tomography and positron emission tomography.
Methods
Seventy-three lymph nodes were tested by transbronchial needle aspiration on 48 consecutive patients, each patient underwent
to mediastinoscopy or thoracoscopy immediately after needle aspiration for histological confirmation.
A cytological sampling adequate for diagnosis was obtained in 45 patients (93.7%); the three cases of inadequate sampling
resulted as negative for cancer.
Results
The endobronchial ultrasound guided transbronchial needle aspiration gives a sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive
value, negative predictive value, and accuracy of 97.4%, 100%, 100%, 87.5%, and 97.7% respectively. Disease prevalence was
84.4%. All the endoscopic procedures were well tolerated and no immediate complications were recorded.
Conclusions
Transbronchial needle aspiration under endobronchial ultrasound guidance is a valuable technique for cytological diagnosis
of isolated mediastinal lymphadenopathy in patients with history of malignancy. Tissue sampling by invasive surgical procedures
(mediastinoscopy or thoracoscopy) remains mandatory in case of inadequate or negative transbronchial needle aspiration cytology.
Keywords Bronchoscopy - Cancer - Ultrasosonography - Endoscopy
This work has been performed at Thoracic Surgery and Lung Transplant Unit, Fondazione Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Mangiagalli
e Regina Elena, Padiglione Zonda, Via F. Sforza 35, 20122 Milan, Italy.