Ten-year experience of transbronchial endosonography in single center

Objective Transbronchial endosonography (EBUS) is a relatively new method for diagnosing of the pathological condition of the thoracic organs. Analysis of 10 years of our experience in the use of transbronchial endosonography in a specialized center.

Material and Methods During the period from April 2010 to April 2020, 756 transbronchial endosonographies were conducted on 756 patients. The studies were carried out for various indications: 1) Group 1 (483) – transbronchial puncture of the lymph nodes in order to obtain morphological confirmation of the etiology; 2) Group 2 (260) – staging of suspected or verified lung cancer to determine the descriptor N; 3) Group 3 (13) – a study that ended only with obtaining an endosonographic image. All patients underwent transbronchial endosonography using the special ultrasound bronchoscope EB-1970UK (Pentax Corp.) and the ultrasound scanner EUB 5000 Plus G OB/GYN – Vascular Ultrasound (HITACHI Corp.).

Results General information content was 78%; verification of mediastinal lymphadenopathy was 72% (57, 79, 58% for smears, cytoblocks and smears + cytoblocks, cytoblocks vs smears + cytoblocks, p < 0.05). Verification of local changes in the mediastinum – 66%; verification of peribronchial tumor – 87%. Lung cancer staging – 87% (82, 88, 86% for smears, cytoblocks vs smears + cytoblocks, respectively, р > 0.05)

Conclusion Тhe diagnostic utility of EBUS for the verification of mediastinal lymphadenopathy can range from 37,5 to 83% and rise with increasing experience for all persons involved. The use of cytoblocks showed the best results. The diagnostic utility of staging varies from 60 to 100% and does not depend on the method of processing the aspiration material.

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