Ultrasonographic characteristics of lymph nodes as predictors of malignancy during endobronchial ultrasound (EBUS): A systematic review

Preoperative mediastinal staging in early-stage lung cancer: Targeted nodal sampling is not inferior to systematic nodal sampling

OBJECTIVE

To determine whether targeted sampling (TS), which omits biopsy of triple- normal lymph nodes (LNs) on positron emission tomography, computed tomography, and endobronchial ultrasound (EBUS), is noninferior to systematic sampling (SS) of mediastinal LNs during EBUS for staging of patients with early-stage non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).

METHODS

Patients who are clinical nodal (cN)0-N1 with suspected NSCLC eligible for EBUS based on positron emission tomography/computed tomography were enrolled in this prospective, multicenter trial. During EBUS, all patients underwent TS and then crossed over to SS, whereby at least 3 mediastinal LN stations (4R, 4L, 7) were routinely sampled. Gold standard of comparison was pathologic results. Based on the previous feasibility trial, a noninferiority margin of 6% was established for difference in missed nodal metastasis (MNM) incidence between TS and SS. The McNemar test on paired proportions was used to determine MNM incidence for each sampling method. Analysis was per-protocol using a level of significance of P < .05.

RESULTS

Between November 2020 and April 2022, 91 patients were enrolled at 6 high-volume Canadian tertiary care centers. A total of 256 LNs underwent TS and SS. Incidence of MNM was 0.78% in SS and 2.34% in TS, with an absolute difference of 1.56% (95% confidence interval, -0.003% to 4.1%; P = .13). This falls within the noninferiority margin. A total of 6/256 LNs from 4 patients who were not sampled by TS were found to be malignant when sampled by SS.

CONCLUSIONS

In high-volume thoracic endosonography centers, TS is not inferior to SS in nodal staging of early-stage NSCLC. This results in change of clinical management for a minority of patients.

Endobronchial Ultrasound-Based Support Vector Machine Model for Differentiating between Benign and Malignant Mediastinal and Hilar Lymph Nodes

INTRODUCTION

The aim of the study was to establish an ultrasonographic radiomics machine learning model based on endobronchial ultrasound (EBUS) to assist in diagnosing benign and malignant mediastinal and hilar lymph nodes (LNs).

METHODS

The clinical and ultrasonographic image data of 197 patients were retrospectively analyzed. The radiomics features extracted by EBUS-based radiomics were analyzed by the least absolute shrinkage and selection operator. Then, we used a support vector machine (SVM) algorithm to establish an EBUS-based radiomics model. A total of 205 lesions were randomly divided into training (n = 143) and validation (n = 62) groups. The diagnostic efficiency was evaluated by receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis.

RESULTS

A total of 13 stable radiomics features with non-zero coefficients were selected. The SVM model exhibited promising performance in both groups. In the training group, the SVM model achieved an ROC area under the curve (AUC) of 0.892 (95% CI: 0.885-0.899), with an accuracy of 85.3%, sensitivity of 93.2%, and specificity of 79.8%. In the validation group, the SVM model had an ROC AUC of 0.906 (95% CI: 0.890-0.923), an accuracy of 74.2%, a sensitivity of 70.3%, and a specificity of 74.1%.

CONCLUSION

The EBUS-based radiomics model can be used to differentiate mediastinal and hilar benign and malignant LNs. The SVM model demonstrated excellent potential as a diagnostic tool in clinical practice.

Intrathoracic Lymph Node Microcalcifications are Associated With a High Prevalence of Malignancy and Anaplastic Lymphoma Kinase Rearrangement: The "Calce" Study

BACKGROUND

Microcalcifications are acknowledged as a malignancy risk factor in multiple cancers. However, the prevalence and association of intrathoracic lymph node (ILN) calcifications with malignancy remain unexplored.

METHODS

In this cross-sectional study, we enrolled patients with known/suspected malignancy and an indication for endosonography for diagnosis or ILN staging. We assessed the prevalence and pattern of calcified ILNs and the prevalence of malignancy in ILNs with and without calcifications. In addition, we evaluated the genomic profile and PD-L1 expression in lung cancer patients, stratifying them based on the presence or absence of ILN calcifications.

RESULTS

A total of 571 ILNs were sampled in 352 patients. Calcifications were detected in 85 (24.1%) patients and in 94 (16.5%) ILNs, with microcalcifications (78/94, 83%) being the predominant type. Compared with ILNs without calcifications (214/477, 44.9%), the prevalence of malignancy was higher in ILNs with microcalcifications (73/78, 93.6%; P<0.0001) but not in those with macrocalcifications (7/16, 43.7%; P=0.93). In patients with lung cancer, the high prevalence of metastatic involvement in ILNs displaying microcalcifications was independent of lymph node size (< or >1 cm) and the clinical stage (advanced disease; cN2/N3 disease; cN0/N1 disease). The anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK) rearrangement was significantly more prevalent in patients with than in those without calcified ILNs (17.4% vs. 1.7%, P<0.001), and all of them exhibited microcalcifications.

CONCLUSION

ILN microcalcifications are common in patients undergoing endosonography for suspected malignancy, and they are associated with a high prevalence of metastatic involvement and ALK rearrangement.

PET-CT SUVmax and Endobronchial Ultrasound Features for Prediction of Malignancy: A Prospective Study

INTRODUCTION

Accurate and early staging of lung cancer has a critical impact on its prognosis. EBUS-TBNA is often the procedure of choice for mediastinal staging. Comprehension of the likelihood of malignancy of each lymph node (LN) can assist puncture decision-making during EBUS and offer insight of the procedure expected diagnostic yield.

METHODS

Prospective analysis of mediastinal LN of patients undergoing EBUS-TBNA from April 2021 to May 2022. The relationship between PET-CT SUVmax levels, EBUS features, and malignancy on LN was investigated. For statistical analysis, patients were assigned to 3 groups: suspected malignancy (diagnosis and/or staging), confirmed malignancy (staging) or suspected benign disease.

RESULTS

A total of 363 LN from 132 patients (71% male, mean 62 years old) were analyzed. Among those with suspected benign disease, no LN puncture resulted in a diagnosis of malignancy. PET-CT SUVmax and short axis size were independent factors for malignancy in LN of patients who underwent EBUS for suspected (p < .001 and p = .047, respectively) or confirmed malignancy (p < .001 and p < .001, respectively). All malignant LN presented SUVmax≥1.85 (≥2.85 for staging EBUS cases) and/or short axis size ≥4.28mm. Vascularized LN were more often malignant in either those with suspected (p = .087) or confirmed (p = .095) malignancy, although not statistically significant. LN that were simultaneously vascularized and lacked central hilar structure were also more commonly malignant (p = .013).

CONCLUSION

LN that has higher SUVmax and are larger should be prioritized for puncture, followed by those vascularized and lacking central hilar structure. In staging EBUS cases, a systematic sampling (N3-N2-N1) is required and must precede any malignancy yield rationale.

A valuable endobronchial ultrasound scoring system predicting malignant lymph nodes

Background

This study aims to determine the sonographic criteria of lymph nodes to predict malignancy with endobronchial ultrasound.

Methods

A total of 1,987 lymph nodes of 967 patients (666 males, 301 females; mean age: 62.1±11.9 years; range, 21 to 90 years) between May 2016 and July 2020 were retrospectively analyzed. The endobronchial ultrasound images of lymph nodes were evaluated according to the following criteria: size (short axis >1 cm), shape (round or oval), margin (distinct or indistinct), coagulation necrosis sign (present or absent), central hilar structure (present or absent) and echogenicity (homogeneous or heterogeneous). A scoring system was developed for predicting malignancy.

Results

A total of 765 (38.5%) of the lymph nodes were malignant. In the univariate analysis, size >1 cm, round shape, distinct margin, absence of central hilar structure, presence of coagulation necrosis sign, and heterogeneity were significant predictors of malignancy (p<0.001 for all). In the multivariate analysis, the main independent predictors were heterogeneity and presence of coagulation necrosis sign (odds ratio=5.9, 95% confidence interval: 4.2-8.2 vs. odds ratio=3.1 95% confidence interval: 2.2-4.5, respectively). A cut-off value for endobronchial ultrasound score of ≥4 increased the malignancy risk 30 times with a sensitivity of 84.7%, and specificity of 84.5%.

Conclusion

Our study results show that endobronchial ultrasound scoring system with six criteria has a high sensitivity and specificity for predicting malignant lymph nodes.

The Utility of the Ultrasonographic Characteristics in Differentiating Between Malignant and Tuberculous Mediastinal Lymphadenopathy During EBUS-TBNA

BACKGROUND

Ultrasonographic characteristics may help differentiate between benign and malignant lymph nodes during endobronchial ultrasound-guided transbronchial needle aspiration (EBUS-TBNA). There is limited data on the utility of various ultrasonographic lymph node features to differentiate between malignant and tuberculous mediastinal lymphadenopathy.

METHODS

We studied the various EBUS ultrasonographic lymph node characteristics (size, shape, margins, heterogeneous echotexture, calcification, central hilar structure, lymph node conglomeration, central intranodal vessel, and coagulation necrosis sign) from our available EBUS-TBNA database.

RESULTS

We extracted 1086 subjects [547 with tuberculosis (TB) and 539 with malignant diagnosis]. Comparing the 2 groups (multivariate analysis), presence of central hilar structure (8.2% vs. 2.6%), coagulation necrosis sign (37.5% vs. 13.7%), lymph node conglomeration (30.5% vs. 7.2%), calcification (5.1% vs. 1.5%), and distinct margins (83.5% vs. 69.8%), were significantly more common in TB ( P <0.05). On the other hand, malignant lymph nodes were larger and more likely to show the presence of a central intranodal vessel (20% vs. 15.8%, P =0.04, multivariate analysis). The absence of lymph node conglomeration had the highest overall diagnostic accuracy (0.61) for the differentiation between malignant and tuberculous lymph nodes.

CONCLUSION

Sonographic lymph node characteristics may help differentiate malignant and tuberculous mediastinal lymphadenopathy. Contrary to previously published literature, we observed coagulation necrosis sign, heterogeneous echotexture and absent central intranodal vessel, more commonly in TB than malignant nodes. These findings from a TB endemic setting are different from other settings, where the prevalence of lung cancer is high in patients undergoing EBUS-TBNA.

Prediction of malignancy in mediastinal lymph nodes during endobronchial ultrasound: A comparative validation study

Background

In this study, we aimed to compare the diagnostic performances of three existing prediction tools in visually identifying a malignant lymph node.

Methods

Between April 2016 and January 2021, a total of 827 lymph nodes of 259 patients (211 males, 48 females; mean age: 61.1±7.2 years; range, 41 to 79 years) who underwent endobronchial ultrasound procedure for diagnosis and/or staging of lung cancer and diagnosis of mediastinal lymphadenopathy of unknown origin were retrospectively analyzed. This external validation study was designed to compare the diagnostic yields of the prediction tools developed by Shafiek et al., Alici et al., and Canada Lymph Node Score (CLNS). Endobronchial ultrasoundguided transbronchial needle aspiration results and predictions were compared to gold-standard tool.

Results

Overall, endobronchial ultrasound-guided transbronchial needle aspiration had a sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive value, and accuracy of 95.6%, 100%, 100%, 97.6%, and 98.4%, respectively. Diagnostic performances of proposed tools were quite remarkable. Among them, Alici algorithm had a higher sensitivity and negative predictive value, which were matched by excellent specificity and positive predictive value offered by CLNS ≥3 and Shafiek tool. The area under the curve value of CLNS ≥3 was higher than Shafiek tool and CLNS ≥2.

Conclusion

Conventional prediction tools relying on simple real-time sonographic features were found to be consistent by the means of diagnostic performance in this external validation dataset. Despite being inferior to cytology, their superior performance was proven with defined individual strengths and weaknesses.

The diagnostic utility of ultrasound elastography to differentiate tuberculosis and sarcoidosis during endobronchial ultrasound-guided transbronchial needle aspiration (EBUS-TBNA)

Introduction

Elastography is a non-invasive tool that may allow differentiation between benign and malignant lymph nodes during endobronchial ultrasound-guided transbronchial needle aspiration (EBUS-TBNA). In tuberculosis (TB) endemic areas, clinicoradiological features of mediastinal TB and sarcoidosis often overlap, rendering an accurate diagnosis challenging. There is interest in the identification of modalities to aid in this differentiation. There are currently no published data on the utility of EBUS-elastography in differentiating between TB and sarcoidosis.

Methods

Subjects undergoing EBUS-TBNA were prospectively enrolled, and elastography features were observed. Subjects with definitive diagnosis of TB or sarcoidosis were enrolled. The elastography features recorded included the three-colour classification patterns and strain ratio.

Results

We enrolled 96 subjects with a definitive diagnosis (53 with TB and 43 with sarcoidosis). Of the 27 patients in whom the lymph nodes were classified as type 1 on endobronchial ultrasound elastography colour pattern, 17 had a diagnosis of TB (62.9%), while 10 were sarcoidosis (37%). For type 2 lymph nodes, 20/45 (44.4%) were TB and 25/45 (55.6%) were sarcoidosis. Type 3 lymph nodes were TB in 16/24 (66.7%) and sarcoidosis in 8/24 (33.3%). In classifying type 1 as 'sarcoidosis' and Type 3 as 'tubercular', the sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value (PPV), negative predictive value (NPV), and diagnostic accuracy were 48.5%, 55.6%, 66.7%, 37%, and 0.51, respectively. The strain ratio (Median [IQR]) was 1.29 (0.37-5.98) in TB and 2.10 (0.83-4.52) in sarcoidosis group (P = 0.48).

Conclusion

Ultrasound elastographic lymph node characteristics have a poor diagnostic utility to differentiate between TB and sarcoidosis during EBUS-TBNA.

Combination of 18F-FDG PET/CT and convex probe endobronchial ultrasound elastography for intrathoracic malignant and benign lymph nodes prediction

Background

Positron emission tomography–computed tomography (PET/CT) and convex probe endobronchial ultrasound (CP-EBUS) elastography are important diagnostic methods in predicting intrathoracic lymph nodes (LNs) metastasis, but a joint analysis of the two examinations is still lacking. This study aimed to compare the diagnostic efficiency of the two methods and explore whether the combination can improve the diagnostic efficiency in differentiating intrathoracic benign LNs from malignant LNs.

Materials and Methods

LNs examined by EBUS-guided transbronchial needle aspiration (EBUS-TBNA) and PET/CT from March 2018 to June 2019 in Shanghai Chest Hospital were retrospectively analyzed as the model group. Four PET/CT parameters, namely, maximal standardized uptake value mean standardized uptake value (SUVmean), SUVmean, metabolic tumor volume (MTV), and tumor lesion glycolysis (TLG); four quantitative elastography indicators (stiff area ratio, mean hue value, RGB, and mean gray value); and the elastography grading score of targeted LNs were analyzed. A prediction model was constructed subsequently and the dataset from July to November 2019 was used to validate the diagnostic capability of the model.

Results

A total of 154 LNs from 135 patients and 53 LNs from 47 patients were enrolled in the model and validation groups, respectively. Mean hue value and grading score were independent malignancy predictors of elastography, as well as SUVmax and TLG of PET/CT. In model and validation groups, the combination of PET/CT and elastography demonstrated sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive values, and accuracy for malignant LNs diagnosis of 85.87%, 88.71%, 91.86%, 80.88%, and 87.01%, and 94.44%, 76.47%, 89.47%, 86.67%, and 88.68%, respectively. Moreover, elastography had better diagnostic accuracies than PET/CT in both model and validation groups (85.71% vs. 79.22%, 86.79% vs. 75.47%).

Conclusion

EBUS elastography demonstrated better efficiency than PET/CT and the combination of the two methods had the best diagnostic efficacy in differentiating intrathoracic benign from malignant LNs, which may be helpful for clinical application.

Clinical Validation of the Canada Lymph Node Score for Endobronchial Ultrasound

BACKGROUND

The Canada Lymph Node Score (CLNS) uses four sonographic criteria to predict the risk of malignancy in lymph nodes during endobronchial ultrasound (EBUS). CLNS may play a role in identifying targets for biopsy or re-biopsy during invasive mediastinal staging for lung cancer. However, CLNS has not yet been prospectively validated in routine clinical practice.

METHODS

CLNS scores for each lymph node biopsied during EBUS were prospectively captured for one year (2019). CLNS and the presence of malignancy in each node were compared. Univariate binary logistic regression was completed for each ultrasonographic feature, as well as a multivariate logistic regression model.

RESULTS

CLNS and diagnostic pathology results were available for 367 lymph nodes. Incidence of malignancy increased with higher scores. Scores ≥3 were significantly associated with malignancy (specificity 84.4%, positive likelihood ratio 4.0). Area under the curve was 0.76, indicating a good ability of the model to predict presence or absence of malignancy. Nodes scoring <2 and negative on CT and PET were malignant in 10.1%.

CONCLUSIONS

CLNS correlates with the presence or absence of malignancy in thoracic lymph nodes, and may serve as an adjunct to currently available methods of invasive and non-invasive mediastinal staging. CLNS may be most helpful to select which non-diagnostic nodes require re-biopsy. There is a significant risk of a false negative result even with a score of 0, and using a combination of low CLNS and negative conventional radiology to obviate the need for any initial biopsy remains to be studied in prospective trials.

Linear Endobronchial Ultrasound in the Era of Personalized Lung Cancer Diagnostics-A Technical Review

Major advances in molecular profiling for available targeted treatments and immunotherapy for lung cancer have significantly increased the complexity of tissue-based diagnostics. Endobronchial ultrasound-guided transbronchial needle aspirations (EBUS-TBNA) are commonly performed for diagnostic biopsies and lymph node staging. EBUS-TBNA has increasingly become one of the main sources of tumor cells for molecular analyses. As a result, there is a growing need for high quality EBUS-TBNA samples with adequate cellularity. This has increased the technical demands of the procedure and has created additional challenges, many of which are not addressed in the current EBUS guidelines. This review provides an overview of current evidence on the technical aspects of EBUS-TBNA in light of comprehensive sample processing for personalized lung cancer management. These include sonographic lymph node characterization, optimal needle choice, suction biopsy technique, and the role of rapid on-site evaluation. Attention to these technical details will be important to maximize the throughput of EBUS-TBNA biopsies for molecular testing.

Accuracy and Reproducibility of Endoscopic Ultrasound B-Mode Features for Observer-Based Lymph Nodal Malignancy Prediction

BACKGROUND

Endoscopic ultrasound routinely guides lymph node evaluation for the staging of a known or suspected lung cancer. Characteristics seen on B-mode imaging might help the observer decide on the lymph nodes of risk. The influence of nodal size on the predictivity of these characteristics and the agreement with which operators can combine these for malignancy risk prediction is to be determined.

OBJECTIVES

We evaluated (1) if prospectively scored individual B-mode ultrasound features predict malignancy when further divided by size and (2) assessed if observers were able to reproducibly agree on still lymph node image malignancy risk.

METHODS

Lymph nodes as visualized by EBUS were prospectively scored for B-mode characteristics. Still B-mode images were furthermore collected. After collection, a repeated scoring of a subset of lymph nodes was retrospectively performed (n = 11 observers).

RESULTS

Analysis of 490 lymph nodes revealed the short axis size is an objective measure for stratifying risk of malignancy (ROC area under the curve 0.78). With ≥8-mm size, 210/237 malignant lymph nodes were correctly identified (89% sensitivity, 46% specificity, 61% PPV, and 81% NPV). Secondary addition of B-mode features in <8-mm nodes had limited value. Retrospective analysis of intra- and interobserver scoring furthermore revealed significant disagreement.

CONCLUSIONS

Lymph nodes of ≥8-mm size and preferably even smaller should be aspirated regardless of other B-mode features. Observer disagreement in scoring both small and large lymph nodes suggests it is infeasible to include subjective features for stratification. Future research should focus on (integrating) other (semi)quantitative values for improving prediction.

Endobronchial Ultrasound Multimodal Imaging for the Diagnosis of Intrathoracic Lymph Nodes

BACKGROUND

Endobronchial ultrasound (EBUS) imaging is valuable in diagnosing intrathoracic lymph nodes (LNs), but there has been little analysis of multimodal imaging. This study aimed to comprehensively compare the diagnostic performance of single and multimodal combinations of EBUS imaging in differentiating benign and malignant intrathoracic LNs.

METHODS

Subjects from July 2018 to June 2019 were consecutively enrolled in the model group and July 2019 to August 2019 in the validation group. Sonographic features of three EBUS modes were analysed in the model group for the identification of malignant LNs from benign LNs. The validation group was used to verify the diagnostic efficiency of single and multimodal diagnostic methods built in the model group.

RESULTS

373 LNs (215 malignant and 158 benign) from 335 subjects and 138 LNs (79 malignant and 59 benign) from 116 subjects were analysed in the model and validation groups, respectively. For single mode, elastography had the best diagnostic value, followed by grayscale and Doppler. The corresponding accuracies in the validation group were 83.3%, 76.8%, and 71.0%, respectively. Grayscale with elastography had the best diagnostic efficiency of multimodal methods. When at least two of the three features (absence of central hilar structure, heterogeneity, and qualitative elastography score 4-5) were positive, the sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy in the validation group were 88.6%, 78.0%, and 84.1%, respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

In both model and validation groups, elastography performed the best in single EBUS modes, as well as grayscale combined with elastography in multimodal imaging. Elastography alone or combined with grayscale are feasible to help predict intrathoracic benign and malignant LNs.

Diagnostic utility of endobronchial ultrasound (EBUS) features in differentiating malignant and benign lymph nodes - A systematic review and meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

EBUS is being widely used today for echolocation of lymph nodes for FNAC. We present a systematic review and meta-analysis to assess the diagnostic accuracy of EBUS characteristics of lymph nodes in diagnosing malignancy.

METHODS

A systematic search of published literature was undertaken using databases like PubMed, Web of Science, Cochrane, Google Scholar and Researchgate. Those studies reporting any endobronchial ultrasonography features of malignant lymph nodes like size, margins, echogenicity, shape, central hilar structure (CHS), coagulation necrosis sign (CNS) or color power doppler index (CPDI) were included for review. Random effects model was used to calculate pooled sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative likelihood ratios (LR), and diagnostic odds ratio (DOR). The review protocol was registered with the International prospective register of systematic reviews (PROSPERO registration no. CRD42019117716).

RESULTS

992 articles were retrieved of which 542 articles were evaluated in detail and finally 29 articles met the inclusion criteria. All EBUS features except CPDI showed a statistically significant area under the SROC curve. CNS showed highest area under the SROC curve [0.81 (SE: 0.09)] with maximum pooled specificity [0.93, 95%CI: 0.92-0.94], maximum pooled LR+ [5.12, 95%CI: 2.56-10.2] and DOR [9.23, 95%CI 3.85-22.15]. Maximum sensitivity was seen for CHS 0.91 [95%CI: 0.90-0.92].

CONCLUSION

EBUS features have the potential to help in more precise location of a malignant lymph node thereby helping in increasing the diagnostic yield. However, high diagnostic accuracy of various EBUS features can currently only be said to supplement tissue diagnosis.

The combination of endobronchial elastography and sonographic findings during endobronchial ultrasound-guided transbronchial needle aspiration for predicting nodal metastasis

Background

During endobronchial ultrasound‐guided transbronchial needle aspiration (EBUS‐TBNA), the sonographic findings of B‐mode imaging, as well as endobronchial elastography, can be obtained noninvasively and used for the prediction of nodal metastasis.

Methods

Patients with lung cancer or suspected lung cancer who underwent EBUS‐TBNA were recorded prospectively and reviewed retrospectively. Both the B‐mode sonographic and elastographic findings were independently evaluated for each lymph node. The sonographic features were classified according to previously published criteria. If oval shape, indistinct margins, homogenous echogenicity, and the absence of coagulation necrosis sign were all observed by B‐mode imaging, then the lymph node was judged to be benign by sonographic imaging. In addition, if the stiffer area comprised more than 31% of the entire lymph node area, then the lymph node was judged to be malignant by elastography. We compared the results of these imaging‐based predictions with the pathological diagnoses.

Results

The prevalence of nodal metastasis was 78/228 (34.2%). B‐mode sonography predicted 95.8% of benign lymph nodes, and elastography predicted 72.1% of malignant lymph nodes. By combining the two modalities, 59 of 71 (83.1%) lymph nodes judged as malignant by both analyses were pathologically proven to be malignant, and 101 of 105 (96.2%) lymph nodes judged as benign by both analyses were pathologically proven to be benign.

Conclusion

The combination of elastography and sonographic findings showed good sensitivity and a high negative predictive value, which may facilitate selecting the most suspicious lymph nodes for biopsy.

Key points

Significant findings of the study.

The combination of endobronchial elastography and sonography resulted in a higher diagnostic yield than either modality alone for predicting benign and malignant lymph nodes in patients with lung cancer.

What this study adds.

The combination of endobronchial elastography and sonography will help clinicians identify the most suspicious lymph nodes for puncturing during EBUS‐TBNA, which may improve the efficiency of EBUS‐TBNA.