Randomized study of endobronchial ultrasound-guided transbronchial needle aspiration (EBUS-TBNA) with vs. without rapid on-site cytologic evaluation (ROSE) in the diagnosis of lung cancer - Comparison of EBUS-TBNA with vs. without ROSE

Twelve patients with visible endobronchial lesions were excluded in the analysis. Thus, a total of 108 patients (55 in ROSE group; 53 in non-ROSE group) were analyzed. Additional procedures including EBUS-TBNA for lesions other than the main target lesion and/or transbronchial biopsy in the same setting were performed in 11% of patients in the ROSE group and 57% in the non-ROSE group (p < 0.001). Mean puncture number was significantly fewer in the ROSE group (2.2 vs. 3.1 punctures, p < 0.001). Mean bronchoscopy time was similar between both groups (22.3 vs. 22.1 min, p = 0.95). The sensitivity and accuracy for diagnosing lung cancer were 88% and 89% in the ROSE group, and 86% and 89% in the non-ROSE group, respectively. No complications were associated with the procedures.