Phase II study of endobronchial ultrasound-guided transbronchial needle aspiration (EBUS-TBNA) and transesophageal bronchoscopic ultrasound-guided fine needle aspiration (TEBUS-FNA) using an EBUS bronchoscope in the mediastinal staging of non-small cell lung cancer - EBUS-TBNA and TEBUS-FNA for mediastinal staging

EBUS-TBNA was performed for 257 lymph nodes, and EUS-FNA for 176 lymph nodes. A total of 146 patients had a final diagnosis of non-small cell lung cancer. Thirty-three of them (23%) had N2 and/or N3 node metastases. The sensitivity of EBUS-TBNA, EUS-FNA and the combined approach per patient was 52%, 45% and 73%, respectively (EBUS-TBNA vs combined approach: p = 0.016 using McNemar test). The negative predictive value was 88%, 86% and 93%, respectively. Two cases (1%) of severe cough resulted from EBUS-TBNA.