Diagnostic significance of endobronchial ultrasound-guided transbronchial needle aspiration in mediastinal lesions

Objective  To investigate the diagnostic value of endobronchial ultrasound-guided transbronchial needle aspiration (EBUS-TBNA) in mediastinal lesions.

Methods  The clinical data of 249 patients undergoing EBUS-TBNA examination for mediastinal lesions were retrospectively collected, and pathological examination of specimens obtained through EBUS-TBNA was conducted.

Results  All patients obtained histopathological specimens by EBUS-TBNA, with a 100% success rate of sample acquisition.There were 100 cases (40.2%) of malignant lesions, 92 cases (36.9%) of benign lesions, 57 cases (22.9%) of undiagnosed lesions.The accuracy of EBUS-TBNA was 81.5% (203/249), sensitivity was 68.5% (100/146), specificity was 100% (103/103), positive predictive value was 100% (100/100), negative predictive value was 69.1% (103/149), and diagnosis rate was 77.1% (192/249).Only one patient experienced significant bleeding during the puncture process, which stopped after local hemostasis, and no other patients experienced severe complications during or after the puncture.

Conclusions  In the diagnosis of mediastinal diseases, EBUS-TBNA is accurate and safe, and can be widely used in clinical practice.