Endobronchial ultrasound-guided transbronchial needle aspiration is useful as an initial procedure for the diagnosis of lymphoma

Comparison of specimen adequacy and diagnostic accuracy of a 25-gauge and 22-gauge needle in endobronchial ultrasound-guided transbronchial needle aspiration

Background

Endobronchial ultrasound-guided transbronchial needle aspiration (EBUS-TBNA) is the preferred diagnostic modality for sampling mediastinal and hilar lymph nodes (LNs). The conventional needle used for sampling is either a 21-gauge (21G) or 22-gauge (22G). A 25-gauge (25G) needle has recently been introduced with little known regarding its efficacy.

Methods

A retrospective study was conducted on patients referred for EBUS-TBNA who had LNs sampled using a 25G or 22G needle. A propensity score matching analysis was performed. After matching the groups, each LN was assessed for adequacy and final diagnosis. Non-diagnostic and benign lymphoid specimens were compared with repeat biopsy findings or long-term clinical and radiological follow-up.

Results

A total of 158 LNs were included. An adequate sample was obtained in 92.4% (73/79) in the 25G group and 92.4% (73/79) in the 22G group (P=1). The 25G group diagnosed benign lymphoid tissue in 82.3% (65/79), granuloma in 7.6% (6/79) and malignancy in 2.5% (2/79). Six lymph nodes in the 25G group were non-diagnostic (7.6%). The 22G group diagnosed benign lymphoid tissue in 83.5% (66/79), granuloma in 3.8% (3/79) and malignancy in 5.1% (4/79). Six lymph nodes in the 22G group were non-diagnostic (7.6%). The sensitivity, specificity, negative predictive value (NPV) and diagnostic accuracy in the 25G group was 88.9% (95% CI, 51.8-99.7%), 100% (95% CI, 92.1-100%), 97.8% (95% CI, 87.6-99.7%) and 98.2% (95% CI, 90.1-100%), respectively. The sensitivity, specificity, NPV and diagnostic accuracy in the 22G group was 77.8% (95% CI, 40-97.2%), 100% (95% CI, 86.8-100%), 92.9% (95% CI, 79.3-97.8%) and 94.3% (95% CI, 80.8-99.3%), respectively. The 25G and 22G group were comparable in diagnostic accuracy (P=0.7).

Conclusions

The 25G and 22G needle achieve comparable specimen adequacy and diagnostic accuracy in EBUS-TBNA.

Endobronchial Ultrasound Transbronchial Needle Aspiration for the Diagnosis of Lymphoma

BACKGROUND

Endobronchial ultrasound-guided transbronchial needle aspiration (EBUS-TBNA) presents a minimally invasive way to evaluate abnormal mediastinal and hilar adenopathy. Although EBUS has been established as an effective modality to diagnose lung cancer, its sensitivity for the diagnosis of lymphoma has been demonstrated to be lower. Because of these lower yields uncertainty persists about the ability of EBUS-TBNA to reliably diagnose lymphoma and questions remain regarding the utility of EBUS-TBNA as a first-line biopsy modality for patients suspected of having lymphoma.

METHODS

We conducted a review of our database (n=806 EBUS-TBNAs) for patients undergoing EBUS-TBNA for mediastinal and/or hilar lymphadenopathy over an 8-year span to identify patients diagnosed with lymphoma.

RESULTS

Twenty patients (2.3%) who underwent EBUS-TBNA were ultimately diagnosed with lymphoma. In total, 17 of the 20 patients with lymphoma obtained a diagnosis using EBUS-TBNA. The overall sensitivity of EBUS-TBNA for lymphoma was 85%. The sensitivity for de novo diagnosis was 78% (7/9), and sensitivity for recurrence was 91% (10/11). All patients who achieved a diagnosis by EBUS-TBNA could be adequately subtyped, allowing treatment recommendations.

CONCLUSION

Although the sensitivity of EBUS-TBNA for the diagnosis of lymphoma did not reach values of published data for non-small cell lung cancer, EBUS-TBNA can be considered as a first-line diagnostic tool for patients with mediastinal and/or hilar lymphadenopathy suspected to be lymphoma. Because of the inherent limitations in small volume needle biopsies it is essential that negative samples obtained in the setting of high clinical suspicion warrant further evaluation.

Impact of simulation training on performance and outcomes of endobronchial ultrasound-guided transbronchial needle aspiration performed by trainees in a tertiary academic hospital

Background

Endobronchial ultrasound-guided transbronchial needle aspiration (EBUS-TBNA) has a high diagnostic yield and low complication rate. Whilst it has been included in international guidelines for the diagnosis and staging of lung cancer, current results are mostly based on EBUS experts performing EBUS-TBNA in centres of excellence. The impact of simulation training on diagnostic yield, complications, scope damage and repair cost in a real-world teaching hospital is unclear.

Methods

A review of our hospital EBUS-TBNA registry from August 2008 to December 2016 was performed. A positive diagnosis was defined as a confirmed histological or microbiological diagnosis based on EBUS sampling. Complications were classified as major or minor according to the British Thoracic Society guidelines. In addition, we assessed the cost of repairs for scope damage before and after simulation training was implemented. Using CUSUM analysis, the learning curves of individual trainees and the institution were plotted.

Results

There were 608 EBUS-TBNA procedures included in the study. The number of procedures performed by trainees who underwent conventional training was 331 and those who underwent simulation training performed 277 procedures. Diagnostic yield for trainees without simulation training was 88.2% vs. 84.5% for trainees with simulation training (P=0.179). There was no statistical difference in the diagnostic yield between the groups of trainees (OR: 0.781, 95% CI: 0.418-1.460, P=0.438) after adjusting for risk factors. There was an increase in overall complications from 13.6% to 16.6% (OR: 2.247, 95% CI: 1.297-3.891, P=0.004) after introduction of the simulation training, but a trend to decrease in major complications 3.6% to 0.7% (P=0.112). The cost for scope repairs for the trainees without simulation training was SGD 413.88 per procedure vs. SGD 182.79 per procedure for the trainees with simulation training, with the mean difference being SGD 231.09 per procedure (95% CI: 178.40-640.60, P=0.268). CUSUM analysis showed an increasing learning curve for the trainees with simulation training after an initial competency period.

Conclusions

There was no statistical difference in diagnostic yield from EBUS-TBNA and cost of scope damage after simulation training was introduced into our training program. Interestingly, there was an increase in minor complications. CUSUM analysis can provide additional information on institutional learning curves. The value of simulation training in EBUS-TBNA remains uncertain.

Endobronchial ultrasound convex probe for lymphoma, sarcoidosis, lung cancer and other thoracic entities. A case series

Endobronchial ultrasound endoscopy is a state of the art diagnostic endoscopic procedure for the thorax. Firstly it was designed mainly for the staging of lung cancer and of course for the diagnosis of suspicious findings in large central airways. The main limitation of the equipment is the diameter of the instrument and therefore it can only be guided through large airways. However; the diameter of the working channel also provides a large tissue sample nowadays with the 19G biopsy needle. We will provide our experience with the 22G needle of the endobronchial convex-probe in several medical situations of the thorax.

Minimalist video-assisted thoracic surgery biopsy of mediastinal tumors

BACKGROUND

Mediastinal tumors often require surgical biopsy to achieve a precise and rapid diagnosis. However, subjects with mediastinal tumors may be unfit for general anesthesia, particularly when compression of major vessels or airways does occur. We tested the applicability in this setting of a minimalist (M) uniportal, video-assisted thoracic surgery (VATS) strategy carried out under locoregional anesthesia in awake patients (MVATS).

METHODS

We analyzed in a comparative fashion including propensity score matching, data from a prospectively collected database of patients who were offered surgical biopsy for mediastinal tumors through either MVATS or standard VATS. Tested outcome measures included feasibility, diagnostic yield, and morbidity.

RESULTS

A total of 24 procedures were performed through MVATS. Diagnostic yield was 100%. Median hospital stay and time interval to oncologic treatment were 2 days (IQR, 2-3 days) and 7 days (IQR, 5.5-11.5 days), respectively. At overall comparison (MVATS, N=24 vs. VATS, N=23), there was a significant difference in both frequency and severity of postoperative complication as measured by Clavien-Dindo classification (P<0.006). In a propensity score matched comparison (8 patients per group), grade 3 or 4 complications requiring aggressive management were found only in the general anesthesia group. Global time spent in the operating room was shorter in the MVATS group (P=0.05). Time interval to oncological treatment was the same between groups. Other differences were also found in SIRS score (P=0.05) and PaO₂/FiO₂ (P=0.04) thus suggesting better adaption to perioperative stress.

CONCLUSIONS

MVATS biopsy appears to be a reliable tool to optimize diagnostic assessment in patients with mediastinal tumors. It can offer high diagnostic accuracy due to large tissue samples, while reducing morbidity rate compared to the same operation under general anesthesia. More robust evaluation is needed to define the appropriateness of MVATS in this specific clinical setting.

Diagnosis of a rare primary pulmonary synovial sarcoma with endobronchial ultrasound-guided transbronchial needle aspiration

Primary pulmonary synovial sarcoma (PPSS) is a rare disease. Diagnosis is made postoperatively following resection of the tumor. We describe the case of a 39‐year‐old non‐smoking woman whose chest imaging revealed a heterogeneous mass (5.4 cm × 4.6 cm), with soft tissue density in the right upper lobe and pleural effusion in the right hemithorax. The tumor was enhanced on a computed tomography scan, in which enlargement of the mediastinal lymph nodes compressing the adjacent superior vena cava was observed. Endobronchial ultrasound‐guided transbronchial needle aspiration (EBUS‐TBNA) was then performed, which demonstrated PPSS, subsequently confirmed by immunohistochemistry and the detection of a SYT‐SSX fusion gene. We believe that a diagnostic approach of EBUS‐TBNA for lung sarcoma would provide helpful information to clinicians.