Transbronchial needle aspiration of mediastinal lymph node

Area of Science:

• Pulmonology
• Thoracic Surgery
• Diagnostic Endoscopy

Background:

• Transbronchial needle aspiration (TBNA) is an emerging diagnostic technique in Malaysia, primarily utilized in specialized respiratory centers.
• Limited data exists on the efficacy and safety of TBNA for mediastinal lymph node assessment in the Malaysian context.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the diagnostic yield of TBNA for mediastinal lymph nodes.
• To assess the complication rate associated with TBNA at Hospital Tengku Ampuan Afzan (HTAA).

Main Methods:

• A retrospective review of 25 patients who underwent TBNA for mediastinal lymph node evaluation at HTAA.
• Data collection included endoscopy databases, patient records, CT thorax images, and cytological/histological slide review.

Main Results:

• TBNA yielded positive results in 15 patients (60%).
• Overall, 80% of patients undergoing bronchoscopy had confirmed malignancy.
• Bleeding occurred in four patients (16%), with two cases resolving spontaneously and two requiring adrenaline; no mortality was reported.

Conclusions:

• TBNA is a safe and effective procedure for diagnosing mediastinal lymph node conditions in Malaysia.
• The study supports the utility of TBNA in respiratory centers for diagnosing malignancy.