How to learn and to perform endoscopic ultrasound and endobronchial ultrasound for lung cancer staging: A structured guide and review

The learning of transesophageal ultrasound guided fine needle aspiration (FNA) (endoscopic ultrasound-FNA), and endobronchial ultrasound guided transbronchial needle aspiration (endosonography) should be based on the following steps: Acquiring theoretical knowledge, training on simulators, and supervised performance on patients. Each step should be completed by passing a validated exam before proceeding to the next step. This approach will assure basic competency on all levels, and testing also facilitates learning and improves retention. Competence in endosonography can be based on a systematic an easy principle consisting of 2 times six anatomical landmarks.