Impact of Endobronchial Ultrasound (EBUS) Training on the Diagnostic Yield of Conventional Transbronchial Needle Aspiration for Lymph Node Stations 4R and 7

BACKGROUND: There is sparse literature on whether training in endobronchial ultrasound (EBUS)-guided transbronchial needle aspiration (TBNA) improves the diagnostic yield of conventional TBNA (cTBNA). OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to evaluate the diagnostic yield of cTBNA before and after the introduction of EBUS. METHODS: This was a retrospective analysis of patients who underwent cTBNA at our center. The study was divided into two periods, before and after the introduction of EBUS at our facility. The diagnostic yield of cTBNA was compared between the study periods. Rapid on-site cytological examination was not available. RESULTS: A total of 1,050 patients (61.6% men; mean age 45.6 years) underwent cTBNA during the study period (849 before EBUS; 201 after EBUS). Sarcoidosis (n = 527) followed by bronchogenic carcinoma (n = 222) formed the most common indications for performing cTBNA. There was a significant increase in both the success of obtaining a representative sample (from 71% to 85%), and the diagnostic yield (from 33% to 49.5%) of cTBNA, after the introduction of EBUS. The increase in the diagnostic yield of cTBNA after introduction of EBUS remained significant even after adjusting for years of performing cTBNA and the type of anesthesia (topical vs. sedation and topical) on a multivariate analysis. CONCLUSION: The diagnostic yield of cTBNA at our facility increased after the introduction of EBUS-TBNA. However, given the retrospective nature of the study, prospective studies are required to confirm our findings.