EBUS-TBNA/staging of lung cancer

In the staging of mediastinal lymph nodes before lung cancer surgery, endobronchial ultrasound transbronchial needle aspirations (EBUS-TBNA) have proven to be highly sensitive and specific as well as safe. Although positron emission tomography/computed tomography (PET/CT) has been a major development in the preoperative workup of patients with lung cancer, EBUS-TBNA has superior test performance and PET/CT cannot be regarded as a substitute for tissue sampling with EBUS-TBNA. In general, EBUS-TBNA staging is needed for any patient with CT nodes greater than 1 cm in short axis, or PET-positive mediastinal nodes.