Chest, Vol 88, 860-863, Copyright © 1985 by American College of Chest Physicians

ARTICLES

Flexible transbronchial needle aspiration biopsy for histologic specimens

KP Wang

Flexible transbronchial needle aspiration (TBNA) biopsy has been used to obtain cytologic specimens from mediastinal lymph nodes for the diagnosis and staging of bronchogenic carcinoma. The dependency on a sophisticated cytologic laboratory, the skill required to perform this procedure, and the inability to obtain enough tissue to diagnose noncarcinomatous processes in the mediastinum by smaller needles has limited its use. The application of TBNA would be greatly enhanced if a histologic specimen could be obtained from the mediastinal lymph node safely. For this reason, an 18-gauge needle was developed and used through a rigid bronchoscope. In ten patients, adequate tissue for histology was obtained in nine, and a specific diagnosis was made in eight patients without any complication. A similar technique was developed and is now reported using the flexible bronchoscope. We conclude that using a flexible transbronchial needle is an effective and safe way of obtaining histologic specimens from the mediastinum and can provide a diagnosis, both in malignant and benign mediastinal disease. Hopefully, this technique will further reduce the need for more invasive surgical procedures.

This article has been cited by other articles:

				G. Plat, P. Pierard, A. Haller, J. Hutsebaut, J. Faber, M. Dusart, P. Eisendrath, J-P. Sculier, and V. Ninane Endobronchial ultrasound and positron emission tomography positive mediastinal lymph nodes Eur. Respir. J., February 1, 2006; 27(2): 276 - 281. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				S. Bilaceroglu, O. Gunel, N. Eris, U. Cagirici, and A. C. Mehta Transbronchial Needle Aspiration in Diagnosing Intrathoracic Tuberculous Lymphadenitis Chest, July 1, 2004; 126(1): 259 - 267. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				E. Cetinkaya, P. Yildiz, S. Altin, and V. Yilmaz Diagnostic Value of Transbronchial Needle Aspiration by Wang 22-Gauge Cytology Needle in Intrathoracic Lymphadenopathy Chest, February 1, 2004; 125(2): 527 - 531. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				R. Trisolini, L. L. Agli, A. Cancellieri, V. Poletti, C. Tinelli, G. Baruzzi, and M. Patelli The Value of Flexible Transbronchial Needle Aspiration in the Diagnosis of Stage I Sarcoidosis Chest, December 1, 2003; 124(6): 2126 - 2130. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				S. Bandoh, J. Fujita, Y. Tojo, H. Yokomise, K. Satoh, S. Kobayashi, and T. Ishida Diagnostic Accuracy and Safety of Flexible Bronchoscopy With Multiplanar Reconstruction Images and Ultrafast Papanicolaou Stain: Evaluating Solitary Pulmonary Nodules Chest, November 1, 2003; 124(5): 1985 - 1992. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				M. Patelli, L. L. Agli, V. Poletti, R. Trisolini, A. Cancellieri, N. Lacava, F. Falcone, and M. Boaron Role of fiberscopic transbronchial needle aspiration in the staging of N2 disease due to non-small cell lung cancer Ann. Thorac. Surg., February 1, 2002; 73(2): 407 - 411. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				T. J. HARKIN, C. CIOTOLI, D. J. ADDRIZZO-HARRIS, D. P. NAIDICH, J. JAGIRDAR, and W. N. ROM Transbronchial Needle Aspiration (TBNA) in Patients Infected with HIV Am. J. Respir. Crit. Care Med., June 1, 1998; 157(6): 1913 - 1918. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]