Objective: To evaluate the diagnostic yield and cytologic accuracy of endobronchial ultrasound-guided transbronchial needle aspiration (EBUS-TBNA) in cases of clinically suspected epithelial malignancy, sarcoidosis and lymphoma.
Study design: Over a 9-month period from inception at Thomas Jefferson University Hospital, a retrospective analysis of the cytologic diagnoses of all EBUS-TBNA procedures performed in 48 patients was undertaken. The patients were divided into 2 groups, those with clinical suspicion of an epithelial malignancy and those with clinical suspicion of sarcoidosis or lymphoma.
Results: Of the 48 patients who underwent EBUS-TBNA, 39 had adequate fine needle aspiration biopsy samples (60 of 78) with a diagnostic yield of 77%; the pre-EBUS yield was 58%. For the group with malignant disease the calculated sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value (PPV) and negative predictive value (NPV) were all 100%. For the group with benign disease the calculated sensitivity, specificity, PPV and NPV were also 100%.
Conclusion: Preliminary results show that cytologic samples obtained via BUS-TBNA are accurate and specific in making a diagnosis of an epithelial malignancy or benign disease.