Safety and utility of Endoscopic Ultrasound with Bronchoscope-guided Fine Needle Aspiration (EUS-B-FNA) in suspected lung cancer patients with poor respiratory or general conditions: a prospective three-center observational study.

BACKGROUND: Although transbronchial diagnostic procedures are sometimes difficult to perform because of the patient's respiratory or general conditions, endoscopic ultrasound with bronchoscope-guided fine-needle aspiration (EUS-B-FNA), a known transesophageal diagnostic procedure, might be useful for such cases. We conducted this prospective three-center observational study to evaluate the safety and efficacy of EUS-B-FNA in suspected lung cancer patients with poor respiratory or general conditions. METHODS: Patients with suspected lung cancer with respiratory failure, Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status of 2 or higher, or severe respiratory symptoms, were enrolled. The primary endpoints were the diagnostic yield of lung cancer and its safety, and the secondary endpoints were the success rate of molecular and programmed death ligand 1 (PD-L1) analyses, and the 6-month survival rate in patients with lung cancer. RESULTS: We enrolled 30 patients, of which 29 were included in the analysis. Among them, 26 were eventually diagnosed with lung cancer. The diagnostic yield for lung cancer was 100% (26/26). There were no adverse events associated with EUS-B-FNA requiring procedure discontinuation. The success rates of molecular analysis for EGFR, ALK, ROS-1, and BRAF were 100% (14/14), 100% (11/11), 100% (9/9), and 75% (6/8), respectively. The success rate of the PD-L1 analysis was 100% (15/15). The 6-month survival rate in patients with lung cancer was 53.8% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 33.4-76.4), and the median overall survival (OS) was 196 days (95% CI: 142-446). CONCLUSIONS: EUS-B-FNA is a safe and effective diagnostic method, even in patients with suspected lung cancer with poor respiratory or general conditions. TRIAL REGISTRATION: This clinical trial was registered at https://www.umin.ac.jp/ctr/index.htm (UMIN000041235, approved on 28/07/2020).

EBUS versus EUS-B for diagnosing sarcoidosis: The International Sarcoidosis Assessment (ISA) randomized clinical trial.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Endosonography with intrathoracic nodal sampling is proposed as the single test with the highest granuloma detection rate in suspected sarcoidosis stage I/II. However, most studies have been performed in limited geographical regions. Studies suggest that oesophageal endosonographic nodal sampling has higher diagnostic yield than endobronchial endosonographic nodal sampling, but a head-to-head comparison of both routes has never been performed. METHODS: Global (14 hospitals, nine countries, four continents) randomized clinical trial was conducted in consecutive patients with suspected sarcoidosis stage I/II presenting between May 2015 and August 2017. Using an endobronchial ultrasound (EBUS) scope, patients were randomized to EBUS or endoscopic ultrasound (EUS)-B-guided nodal sampling, and to 22- or 25-G ProCore needle aspiration (2 × 2 factorial design). Granuloma detection rate was the primary study endpoint. Final diagnosis was based on cytology/pathology outcomes and clinical/radiological follow-up at 6 months. RESULTS: A total of 358 patients were randomized: 185 patients to EBUS-transbronchial needle aspiration (EBUS-TBNA) and 173 to EUS-B-fine-needle aspiration (FNA). Final diagnosis was sarcoidosis in 306 patients (86%). Granuloma detection rate was 70% (130/185; 95% CI, 63-76) for EBUS-TBNA and 68% (118/173; 95% CI, 61-75) for EUS-B-FNA (p = 0.67). Sensitivity for diagnosing sarcoidosis was 78% (129/165; 95% CI, 71-84) for EBUS-TBNA and 82% (115/141; 95% CI, 74-87) for EUS-B-FNA (p = 0.46). There was no significant difference between the two needle types in granuloma detection rate or sensitivity. CONCLUSION: Granuloma detection rate of mediastinal/hilar nodes by endosonography in patients with suspected sarcoidosis stage I/II is high and similar for EBUS and EUS-B. These findings imply that both diagnostic tests can be safely and universally used in suspected sarcoidosis patients.

Characterization of Lung Tumors that the Pulmonologist can Biopsy from the Esophagus with Endosonography (EUS-B-FNA).

BACKGROUND: According to guidelines, it is possible to biopsy lung tumors "immediately adjacent to the esophagus" with EUS-B-FNA. However, it is unknown what "immediately adjacent" exactly means. OBJECTIVE: to investigate the possibility of achieving EUS-B-FNA biopsies from a lung tumor depending on the distance from the esophagus and to establish the maximal allowable distance between the tumor and the esophagus. METHODS: In a prospective observational study, we included patients with a lung tumor located maximum 6 cm from the esophagus and indication of EUS-B-FNA from the tumor. The tumors were of different sizes. In a plot presenting the tumor size-distance relationship in cases with (biopsy) versus without (non-biopsy) successful EUS-B-FNA, a separation line representing the threshold between the groups were identified and a biopsy-index equation established. The maximal tumor-size corrected distance (TSCD) was calculated using the residuals to the separation line. RESULTS: In total, 70 patients were included. EUS-B-FNA from the lung tumor was possible in 46 patients. All tumors with a distance from the esophagus below 19 mm could be biopsied. The maximal allowable esophagus-tumor distance depended on tumor size. From the separation line, a biopsy-index equation was established with the sensitivity of 93.5%, a specificity of 100%, and total accuracy of 95.7%. The TSCD was 31 mm (sensitivity: 95.7%, specificity 75.0%, and accuracy: 88.6%). CONCLUSION: We established a biopsy-index equation to predict the achievability of a lung tumor using EUS-B-FNA depending on distance to esophagus and tumor size. A general maximal TSCD was 31 mm.

Aspiration of Pericardial Effusion Performed with EUS-B-FNA in Suspected Lung Cancer.

Ultrasound-guided needle aspiration via the esophagus using the endobronchial endoscope (EUS-B-FNA) is increasingly being performed by the pulmonologist for the diagnosis of lung cancer, but we have little experience and data available in the literature especially with respect to staging of the disease. We present 2 cases of EUS-B-guided aspiration of malignant pericardial effusion performed in the same setting as bronchoscopy and endobronchial ultrasound. No complications were observed. We conclude that EUS-B-FNA may be safe and efficacious in the evaluation of pericardial effusion during lung cancer workup. Thus, EUS-B-FNA may save time in the diagnostic workup, improve cancer staging, and prevent transthoracic pericardiocentesis.

EUS-B-FNA for Diagnosing Liver and Celiac Metastases in Lung Cancer Patients.

BACKGROUND: In patients with suspected or proven lung cancer, assessment of regional nodal and distant metastases is key before treatment planning. By introducing the endobronchial ultrasound (EBUS)-guided scope into the esophagus and stomach (EUS-B), liver lesions and celiac nodes can be visualized. To date, the utility of EUS-B in diagnosing liver lesions and retroperitoneal lymph nodes is unknown. OBJECTIVES: To assess the feasibility, safety, and diagnostic yield of sampling of liver lesions and retroperitoneal nodes by EUS-B fine-needle aspiration (FNA) in a lung cancer staging setting. METHOD: Consecutive patients suspected of lung cancer in 2 Danish centers between 1 January 2015 and 31 December 2017 were included retrospectively when a lesion in the liver or a retroperitoneal lymph node was visualized and biopsied with EUS-B-FNA. RESULTS: 23 left liver lobe lesions and 19 retroperitoneal lymph nodes were sampled by EUS-B-FNA. Sensitivity and diagnostic yield of sampled liver lesions were 86 and 83%, respectively. In 19/23 patients, there was a cytopathological diagnosis of malignancy. Sensitivity and diagnostic yield from retroperitoneal lymph node samples were 83 and 63%, respectively. In 10/19 patients, the diagnosis was malignancy. No complications were observed. CONCLUSION: EUS-B-FNA enables safe sampling of left liver lobe lesions and retroperitoneal lymph nodes. EUS-B should be considered as a minimally invasive technique to provide tissue proof of distant metastases lung cancer patients.

[A Case of Left Upper Lobe Lung Cancer Successfully Diagnosed by Transesophageal Endoscopic Ultrasound with Bronchoscope-Guided Fine Needle Aspiration Alone].

A 58-year-old Japanese woman with fever and cough visited A hospital. Her chest X-ray and CT showed a tumor attached to the mediastinum in the left upper lobe with mediastinal lymphadenopathy (#4R). After an introduction from A hospital to our hospital, endobronchial ultrasound-guided transbronchial needle aspiration (EBUS-TBNA) for the mediastinal lymphadenopathy and a simultaneous approach to the mass lesion in the left upper lobe were performed. In spite of twice aspiration by EBUS-TBNA for mediastinal lymphadenopathy, we failed to obtain enough specimens, and, as the mass lesion in the left upper lobe was invisible in the endobronchial ultrasound, we could not approach it. Then using the same ultrasound bronchoscope, we subsequently performed a transesophageal endoscopic ultrasound with bronchoscope-guided fine needle aspiration (EUS-B-FNA) to the mass lesion in the left upper lobe twice, with the result that sufficient tissues were obtained. Then we changed from the ultrasound bronchoscope to a normal bronchoscope and we performed brushing and transbronchial lung biopsy for the left upper lobe mass lesion. Pathological results revealed that only the specimens obtained by EUS-B-FNA were diagnostic for adenocarcinoma; the other specimens obtained using EBUS-TBNA and normal bronchoscope failed to be diagnostic. EUS-B-FNA in combination with EBUS-TBNA has been recommended for the diagnosis of mediastinal and near-mediastinal lesions in the guidelines of the American College of Chest Physicians in 2013, but EUS-B-FNA has not been widely used in Japan. As shown in our present patient who was successfully diagnosed as having lung cancer by EUS-B-FNA alone, respiratory physicians should be aware of being skillful at performing EUS-B-FNA to accurately and effectively approach target lesions.

Added value of EUS-B-FNA to bronchoscopy and EBUS-TBNA in diagnosing and staging of lung cancer.

Background: Bronchoscopy and EBUS are standard procedures in lung cancer work-up but have low diagnostic yield in lesions outside the central airways and hilar/mediastinal lymph nodes. Growing evidence on introducing the EBUS endoscope into the oesophagus (EUS-B) in the same session as bronchoscopy/EBUS gives access to new anatomical areas that can be safely biopsied. Objective: To summarize the current evidence of the added value of EUS-B-FNA to bronchoscopy and EBUS-TBNA in lung cancer work-up. Methods: A narrative review. Results: Few randomized trials or prospective studies are available. Prospective studies show that add-on EUS-B-FNA increases diagnostic yield when sampling abnormal mediastinal lymph nodes, para-oesophageal lung and left adrenal gland. A large retrospective series on EUS-B-FNA from retroperitoneal lymph nodes suggests high diagnostic yield without safety concerns, as do casuistic reports on EUS-B-FNA from mediastinal pleural thickening, pancreatic lesions, ascites fluid and pericardial effusions. No study has systematically assessed both diagnostic yield, safety, patient reported outcomes, adverse events and costs. Conclusion: The diagnostic value of add-on EUS-B to standard bronchoscopy and EBUS in lung cancer work-up appears very promising without safety concerns, giving the pulmonologist access to a variety of sites out of reach with other minimally invasive techniques. Little is known on patient-reported outcomes and costs. Future and prospective research should focus on effectiveness aspects to clarify whether overall benefits of add-on EUS-B sufficiently exceed overall downsides.

Endobronchial ultrasound-guided transbronchial needle aspiration (EBUS-TBNA): revolutionizing the landscape of lung disease diagnostics.

Endobronchial ultrasound-guided transbronchial needle aspiration (EBUS-TBNA) has emerged as a revolutionary diagnostic tool for lung diseases, including lung cancer, sarcoidosis, and lymphoproliferative diseases. This minimally invasive procedure offers a superior diagnostic yield while ensuring maximum patient safety when compared to traditional invasive techniques such as mediastinoscopy and thoracoscopy. By enabling real-time imaging and sampling of mediastinal and hilar lymph nodes and masses directly from the bronchoscope, EBUS-TBNA has redefined the precision of diagnostic bronchoscopy. This comprehensive review explores the origins, development, and current status of EBUS-TBNA, highlighting its successes and identifying potential areas for improvement. Technological advancements have continuously enhanced the reliability and efficacy of EBUS-TBNA over time. The mechanisms underlying the superior diagnostic yield of EBUS-TBNA are thoroughly discussed, further solidifying its position as the gold standard for lung cancer staging and diagnosis. Furthermore, this review delves into the crucial role of EBUS-TBNA in lung cancer diagnosis, supported by studies comparing its accuracy, safety, and cost-effectiveness to other diagnostic tools. Looking ahead, ongoing research aims to expand the applications of EBUS-TBNA and improve its diagnostic performance. Notable advancements in needle design and sampling techniques hold promise for further enhancing its efficacy. Maximizing its potential through comprehensive training and continuous technological developments will enable broader clinical applications, ultimately leading to improved patient outcomes. As EBUS-TBNA continues to evolve, its diagnostic impact is expected to increase, solidifying its position as an indispensable tool in the diagnosis and management of lung diseases.

Role of esophageal ultrasound with a bronchoscope (EUS-B) with fine needle aspiration in the diagnosis of mediastinal Bronchogenic cyst.

A 12-year-old adolescent boy presented with complaints of persisting dry cough and exertional dyspnea. A CT chest revealed a cystic lesion posterior to the trachea and a flexible bronchoscopy revealed extrinsic compression of the posterior trachea and partial obstruction of the left main bronchus. He underwent an Endoscopic Ultrasound with a Bronchoscope. A Hypoechoic cystic lesion was seen just in front of the esophagus. Fine needle aspiration yielded thick mucoid aspirate and cytology revealed ciliated columnar epithelium, confirming the diagnosis of a Bronchogenic cyst.

The yield and impact of pulmonologist-performed EUS-B-FNA of subdiaphragmatic lesions-an institutional experience.

INTRODUCTION: Pulmonologists can biopsy structures below the diaphragm using the convex curvilinear ultrasound bronchoscope via the esophagus (EUS-B). The literature with respect to the value of EUS-B, rapid on-site evaluation, and final diagnostic yield for structures below the diaphragm is limited. We review our institutional experience. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Our database was queried retrospectively for EUS-B fine needle aspirations (FNAs) from 2013 to 2021. All procedures involving EUS-B-FNA of subdiaphragmatic structures were selected for analysis. The following data elements were collected for each patient: age, gender, clinical indication, sample site, on-site adequacy (OSA), preliminary and final diagnoses, and sufficiency of cell block for ancillary studies. RESULTS: A total of 75 subdiaphragmatic sites were biopsied in 74 patients. Of which, 87% of samples subjected to rapid on-site evaluation were deemed to contain adequate material (OSA+). There were no false-positive OSAs. Six cases remained nondiagnostic at the final diagnosis. The final diagnostic yield (with cell block) was 92% (69/75 cases). Cell block was sufficient for immunohistochemistry or special stains in all applicable cases (n = 36). Molecular testing was requested for 11 cases and successful in 10 (91%). Sampling of subdiaphragmatic sites changed the stage in 67% (38/57) of lung cancer patients. CONCLUSIONS: Pulmonologists can perform EUS-B-FNA of subdiaphragmatic sites with high OSA and final diagnostic yield when assisted by cytopathologists. Strong correlations exist between OSA, cell block adequacy, and subsequent capacity to perform ancillary testing. EUS-B below the diaphragm can make an important contribution to the diagnosis of lung cancer, nonpulmonary malignancies, and other diseases.

Endoscopic ultrasound-guided pancreas biopsy in the hands of a chest physician.

This is the first paper to report sampling of pancreatic lesions by EUS-B-FNA. A 76 year old patient suspected of primary lung cancer presented with a 36 × 24 mm lesion in the pancreas. Thoracentesis showed malignant cells suggestive of mucinous adenocarcinoma, but immunohistochemistry was inconclusive. Due to rapid deterioration of performance status of this frail patient, the program was shortened to EUS-B-FNA of the pancreatic lesion, which showed mucinous adenocarcinoma suggestive of primary pancreatic cancer. We conclude that EUS-B-FNA from a pancreatic lesion in the hands of a chest physician is feasible and diagnostic of a tumor in pancreas.

Transesophageal endoscopic ultrasound with bronchoscope-guided fine-needle aspiration for diagnostic and staging purposes: a narrative review.

Background and Objective: Transesophageal endoscopic ultrasound with bronchoscope-guided fine-needle aspiration (EUS-B-FNA) is a feasible and well-tolerated modality that is increasingly used to diagnose intrathoracic lesions. This narrative review summarizes the current application of EUS-B-FNA for diagnosing lung cancer, thoracic sarcoidosis, and metastases from extrathoracic malignancies. Methods: A comprehensive and systematic online literature search via Medline/PubMed for the period January 2005 to December 2022 was conducted for articles published using the keywords "EUS-B-FNA", "endobronchial ultrasound transbronchial needle aspiration (EBUS-TBNA)", "endoscopic ultrasound fine-needle aspiration (EUS-FNA)", "lung cancer", "staging", and "sarcoidosis". Key Content and Findings: Recent data prove the efficacy and safety of EUS-B-FNA for providing complete lung cancer staging, when combined with EBUS-TBNA, and in the evaluation of para-esophageal lesions. EUS-B-FNA allows access to inferior mediastinal lymph nodes and para-esophageal masses that are not accessible by EBUS-TBNA. Additional advantages of using EUS-B-FNA include significantly lower doses of anesthetics and sedatives, a shorter procedural time, fewer incidents of oxygen desaturation due to a poor respiratory reserve, significantly less cough, and higher operator satisfaction. Moreover, this procedure can be performed sequentially in the same setting with EBUS-TBNA by one operator. Other benefits include a lower cost, a single setting, and scope use. Conclusions: As EUS-B-FNA and EBUS-TBNA have complementary access to the mediastinum, the diagnostic yield of EUS-B-FNA combined with EBUS-TBNA is higher than that of endosonographic techniques alone in the diagnostic workup of intrathoracic lesions.

Endosonography and endosonography guided needle aspiration for left adrenal gland assessment in lung cancer patients - 10 years' experience.

INTRODUCTION: Lung cancer patients (LCP) require invasive evaluation of left adrenal glands (LAG) if distant metastases (M1b/1c) are suspected in CT or PET-CT. Only few studies showed utility of endosonography and particularly EUS-b-FNA as minimally invasive endoscopic method of LAG analysis. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A retrospective study of consecutive LCP was conducted in two pulmonology centers between January 2010 and December 2019. Records of complete endosonographic staging with use of single ultrasound bronchoscope or two scopes were overviewed. The analysis included cases of enlarged LAG (body size or limbs > 10 mm) examined and sampled by EUS-b-FNA or EUS-FNA. RESULTS: 142 of 2596 LCP staged by complete endosonography (M: 88, F: 54 mean age 64.7) had enlarged LAG, which were biopsied by conventional EUS-FNA (52) and/or by EUS-b-FNA (90). Strong correlation with gland diameter (P < 0.001) was observed. The incidence of LAG metastases in analyzed group was 52.1% (74/142) and regarding histology: SCLC 76.9% (10/13), adenocarcinoma 66.7% (44/66), NSCLC 56.3% (9/16) and SCC 17.5% (7/40). A specificity and PPV for both methods were 100%. A sensitivity, accuracy and NPV for EUS-FNA were 91.7%, 96.2%, 93.3% and for EUS-b-FNA 88%, 93.3% and 87%, respectively and no significant differences for both methods were noted (P = 0.62, 0.44, 0.35). No severe complications afterall biopsies were observed. A six months clinical follow up included all negative LCP with enlarged LAG. CONCLUSIONS: After our study EUS-b-FNA seems to be a reasonable method of choice for LAG assesssment in LCP.

Nasal insertion overall satisfaction with EUS-b (NOSE): evaluating the feasibility of transnasal diagnostic EUS-b.

INTRODUCTION: Esophageal endoscopic ultrasound using an endobronchial ultrasound (EBUS) bronchoscope (EUS­b) has become an important tool in many bronchoscopy units. The procedure is generally performed through the mouth and there are currently no studies published evaluating the feasibility of transnasal EUS-b nor comparing it to the transoral approach. We aimed to evaluate the technical feasibility, patient comfort and safety of transnasal EUS-b. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A single-centre prospective study enrolling patients undergoing diagnostic EUS-b was conducted. Nasal insertion was attempted in all cases. Procedure difficulty and perceived patient's comfort were reported by the bronchoscopists. Comfort, overall satisfaction and willingness to repeat the procedure were reported by the patients. Data regarding demographics, procedure details, patients' comfort and overall satisfaction, histological analysis and final diagnosis were collected and analysed. RESULTS: A total of 119 patients were consecutively enrolled. Nasal insertion was successful in 87.4% and the mean duration of the procedure was 15.7 ± 4.9 minutes. No severe complications were reported. Procedure difficulty was usually graded as "simple" or "very simple" (71.4%). Mean values for bronchoscopists' assessment of patient comfort and patients' reported comfort were 4.2 and 4.1, respectively, on a 5-point scale. Only moderate correlation between these values was found (τb = 0.301, P = 0.001). Willingness to repeat transnasal EUS-b was very high (99.0%). Adequate samples were obtained in 88.5% of patients and overall diagnostic yield of EUS­b needle aspiration was 85.9%. CONCLUSIONS: EUS-b is an effective procedure that can be performed safely through the nasal cavity without significant discomfort for the patient.

Left Adrenal Gland Sampling Through Transesophageal Bronchoscopic Ultrasound-Guided Fine Needle Aspiration (EUS-B FNA): A New Route and a New Challenge.

Metastasis to adrenal glands from primary pulmonary carcinoma is quite a common occurrence. In most cases, the diagnosis is made based on an imaging evaluation done because of chronic non-specific pulmonary symptoms. Further evaluation to determine the type of carcinoma is done using histopathological evaluation of the primary lung lesion. Here, we have described a case of a 60-year-old man who presented with chest pain and was incidentally detected with a lower lung mass and a bulky left adrenal gland in the upper abdominal cuts on a CT of the thorax. As the evaluation of the fine needle aspiration (FNA) sample from lung lesion couldn't be successfully performed, sampling from the left adrenal gland was attempted under the guidance of conventional endoscopic ultrasound using an endobronchial ultrasound probe (EUS-B). When the technique failed to localise the left adrenal gland, a modification was made and the gland was localised using the spleen as a marker. This case further presented a challenge, when due to the unfolding of rugae, the FNA needle wasn't able to reach up to the left adrenal gland. Further adjustment was made and the maximum depth of the gland from the margin was measured and the needle was fully freed. Multiple jabs were made and sampling was successfully done. Cellblock confirmed the presence of adenocarcinoma of pulmonary origin, positive for thyroid transcription factor 1 (TTF-1). The patient remained stable and did not present with any early or late post-procedural complications. The patient was started on appropriate chemotherapy for the disease. He has received three cycles of carboplatin and pemetrexed till now and is doing well.

Diffuse large B-cell lymphoma with cardiac invasion diagnosed using transesophageal ultrasound-guided bronchoscopic aspiration.

Transesophageal ultrasound-guided bronchoscopic aspiration (EUS-B-FNA) allowed for minimally invasive and simultaneous diagnosis and evaluation of the degree of invasion by echocardiography. EUS-B-FNA may be useful for the evaluation and diagnosis of tumours with cardiac invasion.

Molecular analysis in cytological samples obtained by endobronchial or oesophageal ultrasound guided needle aspiration in non-small cell lung cancer.

INTRODUCTION: Cytological samples obtained by endobronchial ultrasound (EBUS) are capital for diagnosis, staging and molecular profile in non-small cell lung carcinoma (NSCLC). OBJECTIVE: To assess the success rate of complete, partial and individual of molecular analysis in samples obtained by EBUS-guided transbronchial needle aspiration (TBNA) and/or by oesophageal ultrasound-guided fine needle aspiration with an echobronchoscope (EUS-B-FNA) in patients with NSCLC. METHODS: Prospective study including 90 patients with non-squamous NSCLC, or non-smoking squamous. Cytological samples were classified into two groups. Group 1: PEN membrane slide and/or cell blocks for the determination of mutations of EGFR, KRAS, ERBB2 and BRAF. Group 2: silane coated slides or cell blocks for rearrangements of ALK, ROS1 and MET amplification. RESULTS: The success rate was 78.6% for 4 molecular alterations (EGFR, KRAS, ALK and ROS1), and 44% for 7 determinations. The individual success rate for EGFR was 97%, KRAS 96.3%, ALK 85%, ROS1 82.3%, ERBB2 71.4%, BRAF 67.7% and MET 81.1%. There were no significant differences (p=0.489) in the number of molecular analyses (1-3 vs. 4) in group 1, depending on the types of samples (cell block vs. PEN membrane slide vs. cell block and PEN membrane slide). CONCLUSIONS: In patients with NSCLC, the cytological material obtained by ultrasound-guided needle aspiration is sufficient for individual and partial molecular analysis in the vast majority of cases. Membrane slides such as cell blocks are valid samples for molecular analysis.

Pseudomesotheliomatous carcinoma of lung adenocarcinoma diagnosed using transesophageal ultrasound-guided bronchoscopic aspiration.

Endoscopic ultrasound with bronchoscope-guided fine-needle aspiration (EUS-B-FNA), a minimally invasive procedure, may be useful for the diagnosis of pseudomesotheliomatous (PMC) carcinoma because a sufficient amount of tissue can be obtained for diagnosis. This is the first report of PMC diagnosed using EUS-B-FNA. Our findings suggest that EUS-B-FNA may reduce the risk of dissemination for PMC.

Infectious complications of EBUS-TBNA: A nested case-control study using 10-year registry data.

OBJECTIVES: Endobronchial ultrasound-guided transbronchial needle aspiration (EBUS-TBNA) has become a standard procedure, but little is known about its infectious complications. The aim of this study is to evaluate the incidence and risk factors of infectious complications of EBUS-TBNA and its clinical course, including effects on anti-cancer treatment. METHODS: This is a nested case-control study of patients who received EBUS-TBNA and were followed for at least 2 months at Samsung Medical Center from August 2009 to April 2019. Patients with clinical symptoms of infection and correlating chest images were defined as the infection group (n = 33). The controls were randomly selected from patients without infectious complication. Multivariate logistic regression with backward selection was used to identify the risk factors of infectious complications. RESULTS: Of the 6826 patients, 33 (0.48%) infectious complications were identified, comprising pneumonia (n = 20) and mediastinal infections (n = 13). Target lesions with necrotic features on chest computed tomography (CT) scan (adjusted odds ratio [aOR], 3.08; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.49-6.40; P = 0.002) and procedures that were performed via the esophagus (aOR, 3.19; 95% CI, 1.47-6.88; P = 0.003) were independently associated with infectious complications. Among patients ultimately diagnosed with cancer, the infection group tended to refuse anti-cancer treatment compared to controls (32/459, 7.0% vs. 5/30, 16.7%; P = 0.066). However, among the patients who received anti-cancer treatment, there was no delay in onset of treatment. CONCLUSIONS: Infectious complications of EBUS-TBNA are rare; however, attention should be paid if the target lesion appears necrotic on chest CT or if the procedure is performed via the esophagus. Although it was not conclusive due to its rarity, patients with infectious complications tended not to receive anti-cancer treatment.