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Updated: May 9, 2026

Substernal Thyroid Biopsy Using Endobronchial Ultrasound-guided Transbronchial Needle Aspiration
Published on: November 10, 2014
Needle assembly malfunction: an unusual complication related to endobronchial ultrasound-guided transbronchial needle
Samjot S Dhillon1, Sai Yendamuri
1Department of Medicine-Pulmonary Medicine/Thoracic Oncology, Roswell Park Cancer Institute, Buffalo, NY 14263, USA. samjot.dhillon@roswellpark.org
Abstract:
Endobronchial ultrasound (EBUS)-guided transbronchial needle aspiration has become an invaluable tool for thoracic physicians. Along with medical complications, it is also important to understand the equipment-related malfunctions. The EBUS scope is delicate and requires dedicated needle assembly for performing the needle aspirates. EBUS scope damage could be expensive and has been well described. We report 2 rare cases of Olympus EBUS needle assembly malfunction (model NA-201SX-4021/4022). The first case describes needle breakage and the second case reports the separation of shaft of sheath-sliding mechanism.
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