Technical tips, diagnostic yield and safety of endobronchial ultrasound-guided transbronchial mediastinal cryobiopsy

Med J Malaysia. 2024 Jul;79(4):490-493.

Abstract

Endobronchial ultrasound-guided transbronchial needle aspiration (EBUS-TBNA) is commonly used to diagnose and stage lung cancer. In clinical practice, cytology specimens from EBUS-TBNA may be low in cellularity, especially with necrotic lesions. Endobronchial ultrasound-guided transbronchial mediastinal cryobiopsy (EBUS-TBMC) has recently become the preferred method for obtaining histology biopsy. This retrospective cohort study analysed the first 30 patients who have undergone EBUS-TBMC in a tertiary centre in Malaysia. EBUS-TBMC demonstrated a high diagnostic yield and good safety profile. All the samples obtained were adequate for the detection of driver alteration by next-generation sequencing.

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Bronchoscopy / adverse effects
  • Bronchoscopy / methods
  • Cryosurgery / methods
  • Endoscopic Ultrasound-Guided Fine Needle Aspiration* / adverse effects
  • Endoscopic Ultrasound-Guided Fine Needle Aspiration* / methods
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Lung Neoplasms* / diagnosis
  • Lung Neoplasms* / pathology
  • Malaysia
  • Male
  • Mediastinum / pathology
  • Middle Aged
  • Retrospective Studies