Endobronchial ultrasound guided transbronchial needle aspiration: a novel way to diagnose metastatic urological cancer

Sir, Endobronchial ultrasound-transbronchial needle aspiration (EBUS-TBNA) is a relatively non-invasive technique—usually performed as a day case under light sedation—whereby mediastinal and hilar lymph nodes can be safely sampled under direct vision. It was first described in the early 1990s and since the beginning of the 21st century its popularity and use has spread across the world. EBUS-TBNA is performed using an ultrasound transducer that is integrated into a flexible fibreoptic bronchoscope which in turn permits biopsies to be taken under direct vision and thereby overcomes many of the problems associated with mediastinoscopy and blind TBNA. We present two cases whereby patients underwent this procedure and the diagnosis of metastatic urological cancer was made. A 73-year-old male former cigar smoker presented with progressive breathlessness, haemoptysis and …