Efficiency of EBUS-TBNA for diagnosing benign and malignant lymphadenopathy

• Main Authors: Yang-Li Liu, Xiao-Ran Liu, Hui Li, Feng-Jia Chen, Huai Liao, Can-Mao Xie
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Wolters Kluwer Medknow Publications 2018-01-01
• Series: Journal of Acute Disease
• Subjects: EBUS; TBNA; Lymphadenopathy; Malignancy; Benign disease
• Online Access: http://www.jadweb.org/article.asp?issn=2221-6189;year=2018;volume=7;issue=5;spage=197;epage=201;aulast=Liu
• ISSN: 2221-6189; 2589-5516

Objective: To determine whether endobronchial ultrasound-guided transbronchial needle aspiration (EBUS-TBNA) can rapidly distinguish among lung cancer, tuberculosis and sarcodosis, and to explore its sensitivity and specificity. Methods: Clinical data of patients with enlarged mediastinal or hilar lymphadenopathy who underwent EBUS-TBNA at our hospital between September 1, 2012 and June 30, 2015 for were retrospectively analyzed. The sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, and negative predicted value [including 95% confidence interval (CI)] were calculated.. Results: A total of 299 lymph nodes from 201 patients underwent EBUS-TBNA were selected and no serious complications occurred. EBUS-TBNA showed a sensitivity of 87.9% (124/141) (95% CI: 81%–92%), a specificity of 100.0% (124/124) (95% CI: 97%–100%), and a negative predicted value of 41.3% (95% CI: 23%–61%) in the detection of lung cancer. The sensitivity and specificity of diagnosis of mediastinal tuberculosis lymphadenitis were 72.4% (21/29) (95% CI: 53%–87%) and 100.0% (95% CI: 82%–100%); while sensitivity and specificity of diagnosis of sarcoidosis were 71.4% (5/7) (95% CI: 29%–96%) and 100.0% (95% CI: 91%–100%). Conclusions: The sensitivity and specificity of EBUS-TBNA do not significantly differ for a diagnosis of lung cancer versus tuberculosis or sarcodosis.