Current clinical applications of endobronchial ultrasound

Endobronchial ultrasound (EBUS) is an evolving diagnostic tool in respiratory medicine that allows the bronchoscopist to see beyond the airway. The radial probe EBUS was first introduced to evaluate the central airway structure. With advances in technology, the small radial probes can now visualize and assist transbronchial biopsies of peripheral lung nodules without exposure to radiation. The newest development is the convex probe EBUS (CP-EBUS) consisting of a curvilinear electronic transducer on the tip of a flexible bronchovideoscope. CP-EBUS allows real-time EBUS-guided transbronchial needle aspiration (EBUS-TBNA). EBUS-TBNA has access to all of the mediastinal lymph nodes accessible by mediastinoscopy as well as N1 nodes. EBUS-TBNA is primarily used for lymph-node staging and diagnosis of lung cancer, but is also used for the diagnosis of unexplained mediastinal and hilar lymphadenopathy. It is a minimally invasive approach that is safe and has a good diagnostic yield.