In the last years, several techniques have been developed to obtain a prompt diagnosis or rule out lung cancer. Endobronchial ultrasound- guided transbronchial needle aspiration (EBUS-TBNA) is a minimally invasive procedure with a high diagnostic yield for mediastinal and central pulmonary lesions. This procedure is especially useful for lung cancer diagnosis and mediastinal staging. Two different types of EBUS are currently available: Radial EBUS and lineal EBUS. Each one has technical differences together with a range of clinical indications. The aim of this review is to discuss about EBUS-TBNA and its current clinical indications, evidence about the accuracy of the procedure for lung cancer diagnosis and staging, and evaluation of the pathological and molecular studies (EGFR, ALK, and ROS1) obtained through EBUS-TBNA and rapid on-site evaluation (ROSE).

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) has no curative treatment, and in moderate to advanced stages, functional parameters and quality of life are affected. Lung volume reduction improves respiratory parameters and quality of life of these patients. Endoscopic lung volume reduction is a minimally invasive procedure that uses endobronchial valves or coils. Valves are unidirectional, blocking the air from entering the target lobe during inspiration, allowing the exit of air and secretions during expiration. Complete fissure and absence of collateral ventilation are needed for an adequate functioning of endobronchial valves. Endobronchial coils cause mechanical retraction of the lung parenchyma. We report two patients who underwent endoscopic lung volume reduction by endobronchial valves. One patient was on continuous positive pressure non-invasive ventilation due to his severe emphysema.

Background: Endobronchial ultrasound-guided trans-bronchial needle aspiration (EBUS-TBNA) is a minimally invasive procedure with a high diagnostic yield for lesions adjacent to the central airway. Aim: To describe the diagnostic yield of EBUS-TBNA for lesions suspicious of Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer (NSCLC). Material and Methods: Prospective study of 128 patients aged 25 to 87 years (56% males) undergoing EBUS-TBNA. Radiological features of the lesions were recorded by chest CT scan such as morphology, margins of the lesion, lesion size and location based on the International Association for the Study of Lung Cancer (IASLC) map. Definitive pathological results were evaluated. Results: The average size of lesions was 18.5 millimeter and; 68 cases were of less than 20 millimeters. Sensitivity was 96.7%, specificity 100%, and negative predictive value 93.3%. The most common histological diagnosis was adenocarcinoma. Conclusions: EBUS-TBNA is a useful diagnostic tool for NSCLC suspicious lesions adjacent to the central airway.

OBJECTIVE: Endobronchial ultrasound-guided transbronchial needle aspiration (EBUS-TBNA) is a minimally invasive diagnostic test with a high diagnostic yield for suspicious central pulmonary lesions and for mediastinal lymph node staging. The main objective of this study was to describe the diagnostic yield of EBUS-TBNA for mediastinal lymph node staging in patients with suspected lung cancer. METHODS: Prospective study of patients undergoing EBUS-TBNA for diagnosis. Patients ≥ 18 years of age were recruited between July of 2010 and August of 2013. We recorded demographic variables, radiological characteristics provided by axial CT of the chest, location of the lesion in the mediastinum as per the International Association for the Study of Lung Cancer classification, and definitive diagnostic result (EBUS with a diagnostic biopsy or a definitive diagnostic method). RESULTS: Our analysis included 354 biopsies, from 145 patients. Of those 145 patients, 54.48% were male. The mean age was 63.75 years. The mean lymph node size was 15.03 mm, and 90 lymph nodes were smaller than 10.0 mm. The EBUS-TBNA method showed a sensitivity of 91.17%, a specificity of 100.0%, and a negative predictive value of 92.9%. The most common histological diagnosis was adenocarcinoma. CONCLUSIONS: EBUS-TBNA is a diagnostic tool that yields satisfactory results in the staging of neoplastic mediastinal lesions.

OBJETIVO: La ultrasonografía endobronquial con aspiración transbronquial por aguja fina (EBUS-TBNA, por sus siglas en inglés) es una alternativa mínimamente invasiva con un alto rendimiento diagnóstico para lesiones pulmonares centrales sospechosas de cáncer o para etapificación de linfonodos mediastínicos. El objetivo principal de este trabajo es describir el rendimiento de EBUS-TBNA como método de etapificación de linfonodos mediastínicos en pacientes con sospecha de cáncer pulmonar. MÉTODOS: Estudio prospectivo de pacientes sometidos a EBUS-TBNA como método diagnóstico. Se seleccionaron pacientes mayores de 18 años entre julio del 2010 y agosto del 2013. Se registraron variables demográficas, características radiológicas mediante TC axial de tórax, localización mediastínica según clasificación de la International Association for the Study of Lung Cancer y resultado diagnóstico definitivo (EBUS con biopsia diagnóstica o método diagnóstico definitivo). RESULTADOS: Se incluyeron 145 pacientes con un total de 354 biopsias. El 54,48% de los pacientes eran hombres, con edad promedio de 63,75 años. El tamaño promedio de los linfonodos fue de 15,03 mm, y 90 fueron menores de 10,0 mm. El rendimiento diagnóstico fue: sensibilidad, 91,17%; especificidad, 100,0%; y valor predictivo negativo, 92,9%. El diagnóstico histológico más frecuente fue adenocarcinoma. CONCLUSIONES: EBUS-TBNA es una herramienta diagnóstica con buenos resultados en el estudio de etapificación de lesiones neoplásicas en mediastino.