Abstract： Objective To introduce the new procedure of endobronchial ultrasoundguided transbronchial needle aspiration (EBUSTBNA) for staging lung cancer and diagnosing thoracic diseases, in order to determine its value in the evaluation of thoracic diseases. Methods We retrospectively reviewed the data of all patients examined with EBUSTBNA our institution between September 2009 and May 2010. Among the patients, there were 75 males and 31 females with an average age of 62.3 years old. Based on their primary indication, we divided all the 106 patients into three categories. (1) There were 76 patients with known or bly suspected lung cancer. Enlarged mediastinal lymph nodes on radiographic examination of the chest (≥1.0 cm) were detected in all the patients. (2) There were 22 patients with enlarged mediastinal lymph nodes or mediastinal masses of unknown origin. (3) There were 8 patients with pulmonary mass located close to the central airways. Results (1) 76 patients underwent EBUSTBNA for known or bly suspected lung cancer. Among them, 58 patients were confirmed to have mediastinal lymph nodes metastasis on EBUSTBNA. Sixteen in the 18 patients with negative EBUSTBNA underwent thoracoscopy or thoracotomy for pulmonary resection and mediastinal lymph node dissection. Postoperative pathology confirmed that 12 patients did not have metastatic nodes, 2 patients had metastatic nodes and 2 other patients had benign lesions within the lung. The diagnostic sensitivity, specificity and accuracy of EBUSTBNA for the mediastinal staging of lung cancer were 96.66%(58/60), 100.00%(12/12) and 97.22%(70/72), respectively. (2) 22 patients underwent EBUSTBNA for the evaluation of mediastinal adenopathy or mass in the absence of any identifiable pulmonary lesion. Among them, 7 had malignancy, 13 had benign diseases on EBUSTBNA and the sensitivity of EBUSTBNA in distinguishing malignant mediastinal diseases was 87.50% (7/8). (3) 8 patients with pulmonary mass located close to the central airways were accessed by EBUSTBNA. Definite diagnosis was achieved in 7 patients, and lung cancer was detected in 6 patients. The sensitivity and the diagnostic accuracy of EBUSTBNA for the diagnosis of unknown pulmonary mass was 85.71%(6/7) and 87.50%(7/8), respectively. All the procedures were uneventful, and there were no complications. Conclusion EBUSTBNA is a highly effective and safe procedure. We believe that EBUSTBNA should be used routinely in the diagnosis and staging of thoracic diseases.
ObjectiveTo analyse epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) gene mutations in pathologically confirmed lung adenocarcinoma (LAC) samples obtained by endobronchial ultrasound-guided transbronchial needle aspiration (EBUS-TBNA). MethodsClinical data of 964 consecutive patients who underwent EBUS-TBNA in Department of Thoracic Surgery, Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center from April 2009 to September 2013 were retrospectively reviewed. EGFR gene mutations in 77 LAC patients who were comfirmed by cell morphology and immunohistochemistry were analyzed. There were 48 males and 29 females with their median age of 61 (range 33-78) years, and 43 patients were smokers. ResultsAll the 77 LAC patients were confirmed by immunohistochemistry. Among them, 31 patients (40.26%) were found to have EGFR gene mutations. There was no statistical difference in EGFR gene mutations between male and female patients (P=0.088). Mutation rate of EGFR genes of non-smokers was significantly higher than that of smokers (P=0.032). ConclusionSamples obtained by EBUS-TBNA can be used for EGFR gene mutations analysis. The mutation rate of EGFR genes of non-smokers is higher than that of smokers.