Endobronchial ultrasound transbronchial needle aspiration at Aberdeen Royal Infirmary: the initial experience

Sir, Endobronchial ultrasound transbronchial needle aspiration (EBUS-TBNA) is a more convenient, quicker and less expensive alternative to mediastinoscopy for sampling mediastinal lymph nodes and masses. Since its introduction, it has become well established as a further tool at the disposal of chest physicians by which to accurately diagnose and stage patients with suspected lung cancer and in the evaluation of those with mediastinal lymphadenopathy of uncertain aetiology.1,2 Although its benefits, especially when compared to other investigative tools in lung cancer are well studied, far less is known regarding ‘real-life’ outcomes during its initial introduction. We therefore wished to highlight the demographics, results and diagnostic sensitivity of EBUS-TBNA in the first consecutive 100 patients in whom this procedure …