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Updated: May 23, 2026

Systematic Endobronchial Ultrasound - The Six Landmarks Approach
Published on: August 11, 2023
EBUS-TBNA in patients presented with superior vena cava syndrome
Matthew K Wong1, Terence C Tam, David C Lam
1Department of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Queen Mary Hospital, Hong Kong.
Introduction:
Expedient pathological diagnosis is crucial in selection of appropriate treatment in patients presented with superior vena cava syndrome (SVCS). The performance and safety of endobronchial ultrasound-guided transbronchial needle aspiration (EBUS-TBNA) in this setting is unknown.
Methods:
Over a 4-year period, patients presented with SVCS in the presence of mediastinal mass and referred for EBUS-TBNA were enrolled for the study. The procedure was performed under local anaesthesia with conscious sedation. TBNA was performed under real-time with the curvilinear probe of EBUS. Rapid on site cytological examination (ROSE) was not available.
Results:
Eighteen procedures of EBUS-TBNA were performed in 17 patients. Malignancy was confirmed in 16 patients (diagnostic yield 94.1%). There was no major complication including significant bleeding or pneumothorax related to the procedures.
Conclusions:
EBUS-TBNA has high diagnostic yield and is safe in patients presented with SVCS and mediastinal mass.
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