PURPOSE
Transbronchial needle aspiration (TBNA) has been used for the diagnosis and staging of bronchogenic carcinoma through the flexible bronchoscope. The aim of this study was to investigate the diagnostic role of TBNA for bronchogenic carcinoma.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
TBNA was performed in 34 patients with suspected bron- chogenic carcinoma. We analyzed diagnostic rate of TBNA m 28 patients who were ulti- mately diagnosed as bronchogenic carcinoma.
RESULTS
In 12 of 28 patients, TBNA was performed for endobronchial lesions with a type of infiltration, nodular infiltration or compression.
The diagnostic rate was 75%. Addition of TBNA to bronchial washing, brush, and biopsy increased the diagnostic rate from 58% to 80%.
In 16 patients with peripheral tumor and mediastinal lymphadenopathy, TBNA was performed for mediastinal lymph nodes. The diagnostic rate was 62.5%, and was positively correlated with the size of lymph nodes.
There was no significant complications related to TBNA.
CONCLUSION
TBNA was a safe and effective procedure for the diagnosis of bronchogenic carcinoma in selected patients.