Utility of endobronchial ultrasound-guided transbronchial needle aspiration in patients with tuberculous intrathoracic lymphadenopathy: a multicentre study. Issue 10 (3rd August 2011)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Navani, Neal; Molyneaux, Philip L; Breen, Ronan A; Connell, David W; Jepson, Annette; Nankivell, Matthew; Brown, James M; Morris-Jones, Stephen; Ng, Benjamin; Wickremasinghe, Melissa; Lalvani, Ajit; Rintoul, Robert C; Santis, George; Kon, Onn Min; Janes, Sam M
• Is Part Of: Thorax. Volume 66:Issue 10(2011)
• Page Start: 889
• Page End: 893
• Publication Date: 2011-08-03
• Subjects: Bronchoscopy -- lung cancer -- mesothelioma -- non-small cell lung cancer -- small cell lung cancer -- thoracic surgery -- COPD exacerbations -- atypical mycobacterial infection -- opportunist lung infections -- respiratory infection -- tuberculosis -- innate immunity -- pulmonary embolism -- bacterial infection -- clinical epidemiology -- infection control -- lymphocyte biology -- macrophage biology -- neutrophil biology -- sarcoidosis -- alveolar cell cancer -- asbestos induced lung disease -- lung cancer chemotherapy -- asthma -- asthma pharmacology -- COPD pharmacology -- tobacco and the lung -- lung cancer chemotherapy -- non-small cell lung cancer -- small cell lung cancer; Chest -- Diseases -- Periodicals; Thorax; Chest -- Diseases; Periodicals; Periodicals; 617.54
• DOI: 10.1136/thoraxjnl-2011-200063
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0040-6376

Abstract

Abstract : Background: Endobronchial ultrasound-guided transbronchial needle aspiration (EBUS-TBNA) has emerged as an important tool for the diagnosis and staging of lung cancer but its role in the diagnosis of tuberculous intrathoracic lymphadenopathy has not been established. The aim of this study was to describe the diagnostic utility of EBUS-TBNA in patients with intrathoracic lymphadenopathy due to tuberculosis (TB). Methods: 156 consecutive patients with isolated intrathoracic TB lymphadenitis were studied across four centres over a 2-year period. Only patients with a confirmed diagnosis or unequivocal clinical and radiological response to antituberculous treatment during follow-up for a minimum of 6 months were included. All patients underwent routine clinical assessment and a CT scan prior to EBUS-TBNA. Demographic data, HIV status, pathological findings and microbiological results were recorded. Results: EBUS-TBNA was diagnostic of TB in 146 patients (94%; 95% CI 88% to 97%). Pathological findings were consistent with TB in 134 patients (86%). Microbiological investigations yielded a positive culture of TB in 74 patients (47%) with a median time to positive culture of 16 days (range 3–84) and identified eight drug-resistant cases (5%). Ten patients (6%) did not have a specific diagnosis following EBUS; four underwent mediastinoscopy which confirmed the diagnosis of TB while six responded to empirical antituberculous therapy. There was one complication requiring an inpatient admission. Conclusions: EBUS-TBNA is a safe and effective first-line investigation in patients with tuberculous intrathoracic lymphadenopathy.