Diagnostic yield of transbronchial needle aspiration--analysis of 30 cases

In our clinical set up transbonchial needle aspiration of lymph node and parenchymal lesions is an underutilized technique. This study was done to highlight the usefulness of this technique in the pulmonologists armamentarium.

Thirty procedures were performed on patients with intrathoracic lymphadenopathy or parenchymal lung lesions in this study from October, 2006 to April, 2007. Patients with an easily accessible peripheral lymph node, bleeding diathesis and an already confirmed diagnosis were excluded from the study as were patients with a well visualized biopsiable endobronchial lesion.

Nineteen patients (63.3%) on whom transbonchial needle aspirations were performed had intrathoracic lymphadenopathy while 11 (36.6%) had parenchymal lesions without endobronchial lesions which could be biopsied. Adequate samples were obtained in 23 patients (76.6%) chronic granulomatous inflammations which was diagnosed as tuberculosis in corroboration with other clinical and laboratory evidence was seen in 3 cases (10%). Carcinoma was diagnosed in 6 cases (20%). Thirteen cases (43%) were reported as normal and inadequate samples were obtained in 7 cases (23%).

Transbronchial Needle Aspiration (TBNA) is an effective method of obtaining cytological material from intrathoracic lymph nodes and parenchymal lesions and can provide a safe alternative to invasive mediastinotomy/mediastinoscopy and open lung biopsy.