Endoscopic ultrasonography/fine-needle aspiration and endobronchial ultrasonography/fine-needle aspiration for lung cancer staging

Image-guided lymph node fine-needle aspiration: the Johns Hopkins Hospital experience

INTRODUCTION

Although the diagnostic utility of lymph node fine-needle aspiration (FNA) is well established in the evaluation of metastatic malignancy, its value in the diagnosis of lymphoma is more controversial; yet, there is a growing trend among practitioners towards less-invasive procedures such as FNA and core needle biopsy (CNB). The guidelines recently published by the American Society for Clinical Pathology/College of American Pathology (CAP) regarding the workup of lymphoma include recommendations on the value and limitations of FNA.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

We reviewed 1237 image-guided lymph node aspirates from 695 procedures (410 nodes from 360 ultrasound [US]-guided cases, 799 from 309 endobronchial ultrasound [EBUS], 25 from 23 endoscopic ultrasound [EUS], and 3 from 3 computed tomography [CT]).

RESULTS

The majority (40 of 46, 87%) of lymph nodes suspected of lymphomatous involvement were aspirated under ultrasound. Core needle biopsy [CNB] was obtained for 41 (89%) lymph nodes, including all 40 US specimens. Flow cytometry (FC) was performed on 37 (80%) aspirates; aspirates without FC were from patients who had a history of Hodgkin lymphoma, or showed granulomata or non-hematologic malignancy onsite. Thirty-one (67%) lymph nodes were sent for review by hematopathology. Forty-two (91%) lymph node FNA/CNB yielded actionable diagnoses. Seventeen of 241(7%) cases aspirated for other indications (14 US, 3 EBUS) were involved by a lymphoproliferative process. All were reviewed by hematopathology. All 14 US cases had FC and CNB.

CONCLUSION

Our institutional approach towards lymph node cytopathology for lymphoma workup appears to be in accordance with the new CAP guidelines, and demonstrates a potential triage and workflow model for lymph node FNA specimens that allows for accurate diagnosis in cases where lymphoma is a consideration.

Diagnosis of lung adenocarcinoma with left adrenal metastasis via transesophageal endoscopic ultrasound-guided fine-needle aspiration biopsy: A case report

Lung cancer is generally diagnosed through traditional bronchoscopy by pulmonologists, whereas data on the application of transesophageal endoscopic ultrasound-guided fine-needle aspiration (EUS-FNA) for lung cancer diagnosis in China are very rarely reported. We herein describe a case of a 62-year-old woman who presented with non-productive cough and was found to have a pulmonary mass in the upper lobe of the right lung. The results of positron emission tomography revealed an elevated level of ¹⁸F-fluorodeoxyglucose accumulation (maximum standardized uptake value of 13.6) in the left adrenal gland. Thus, EUS-FNA was performed to identify the suspected metastasis to the left adrenal gland, and the histopathological examination of the bioptic specimen demonstrated an adenocarcinoma, confirming the value of EUS-FNA as a first-line minimally invasive approach for diagnosis and staging in patients with lung cancer.