Endobronchial ultrasound and lymphoproliferative disorders: a retrospective study

Ann Thorac Surg. 2012 Dec;94(6):1830-4. doi: 10.1016/j.athoracsur.2012.08.051. Epub 2012 Oct 22.

Abstract

Background: Endobronchial ultrasound-guided transbronchial needle aspiration (EBUS-TBNA) has been shown to have excellent diagnostic performance for mediastinal staging of lung cancer. The utility of EBUS-TBNA for the diagnosis of lymphoproliferative disorders involving the mediastinum or hila, or both, is unclear.

Methods: A retrospective analysis was completed of all patients diagnosed with a lymphoproliferative disorder involving the mediastinum or hila, or both, who underwent an EBUS-TBNA within 3 months of the diagnosis.

Results: Sixty-five patients with mediastinal or hilar lymph node, or both, involvement of their lymphoproliferative disorder underwent EBUS-TBNA within 3 months of their diagnosis. The initial EBUS-TBNA was nondiagnostic in 34 (52%), 11 were subsequently diagnosed by mediastinoscopy, and the remaining 23 were diagnosed by biopsy of a distant site, with involvement of the mediastinum or hilum assumed from preestablished radiographic criteria. A EBUS-TBNA specimen in 31 patients (48%) was interpreted as consistent with or suspicious for a lymphoproliferative disorder. The overall sensitivity of EBUS-TBNA for establishing a definitive diagnosis was 25 of 65 (38%). The sensitivity was lower for new patients, at 7 of 32 (22%), and better for patients with recurrence, at 18 of 33 (55%).

Conclusions: Contrary to previous studies, our findings suggest that EBUS-TBNA does not provide sufficient diagnostic material for accurate lymphoproliferative disorder subtyping in a significant number of patients and performs especially poorly when evaluating new patients. Mediastinoscopy should still be considered as the initial diagnostic procedure of choice when the clinical suspicion for a lymphoproliferative disorder is high, unless the patient is being evaluated for a recurrence of prior disorder.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Biopsy, Fine-Needle / methods*
  • Bronchoscopy*
  • Diagnosis, Differential
  • Endosonography / methods*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Lymph Nodes / diagnostic imaging
  • Lymph Nodes / pathology*
  • Lymphoproliferative Disorders / diagnostic imaging*
  • Lymphoproliferative Disorders / pathology
  • Male
  • Mediastinum
  • Middle Aged
  • ROC Curve
  • Reproducibility of Results
  • Retrospective Studies