RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 Endobronchial ultrasound in the diagnosis of peripheral pulmonary lesions
JF European Respiratory Journal
JO Eur Respir J
FD European Respiratory Society
SP p3691
VO 38
IS Suppl 55
A1 Leonello Fuso
A1 Francesco Varone
A1 Andrea Smargiassi
A1 Riccardo Inchingolo
A1 Daniele Magnini
A1 Antonino Mulè
A1 Guido Rindi
A1 Salvatore Valente
YR 2011
UL http://erj.ersjournals.com/content/38/Suppl_55/p3691.abstract
AB Endobronchial ultrasound (EBUS) is a useful diagnostic tool to localize peripheral pulmonary lesions (PPLs) and to guide transbronchial biopsy (TBB). We retrospectively evaluated the diagnostic accuracy of EBUS-guided TBB in comparison with a definitive diagnosis established by transthoracic CT-guided needle aspiration or surgical lobectomy. In the last ten months, 168 patients performed bronchoscopy for a PPL (mean diameter = 3.5±2.1 cm). PPL was visualized in 123 patients (73%) and TBB was performed in 117 patients. These patients had a PPL larger than patients with a non visualized lesion (mean diameter 3.7±2.1 vs 2.3±1.6 cm, respectively). A definitive diagnosis was obtained in 77 patients whereas 40 patients were lost to follow-up. The TBB diagnosis was cancer in 45 patients and non-malignant lesion in 32 patients. The definitive diagnosis was cancer in 67 patients and non-malignant lesion in 10 patients: all these 10 patients without cancer were correctly diagnosed with TBB.In conclusion, sensitivity of EBUS-guided TBB in the diagnosis of cancer was 67% (45/67) and the overall diagnostic accuracy was 71% (45+10/77). Our data confirm that EBUS-guided TBB is a sensitive method with a high diagnostic yield in patients with PPLs.