Diagnostic yield and safety of C-TBNA in elderly patients with lung cancer

Conventional transbronchial needle aspiration (C-TBNA) is a minimally invasive technique used primarily in the diagnosis and staging of lung cancer. Currently lung cancer is mostly considered a disease of the elderly and the management of this disease in older patients is a growing concern. In this study we aimed to assess the diagnostic yield and safety of C-TBNA in elderly patients. A retrospective review of 88 consecutive C-TBNA procedures for nodal staging in suspected or confirmed primary lung cancer or pathological confirmation in suspected advanced lung cancer was performed. Patients were divided into less than 70 (<70yrs) or 70 and older (≥70yrs) age groups for analysis. There were no significant differences either in the diagnostic yield (69% in patients aged < 70 yrs and 74% patients aged ≥ 70 yrs (p=0.5) nor in the complication rate (respectively 8.8% in patients aged < 70 yrs and 6.9% in patients aged ≥ 70 yrs (p=0.7) between the two age groups. Reported complications were minor bleeding and poor tolerance; no major complications were observed. Based on our experience, C-TBNA represents a useful and safe alternative procedure for the diagnosis and staging of lung cancer in elderly patients.