Contribution of cell block obtained by endobronchial ultrasound-guided transbronchial needle aspiration in the diagnosis of malignant diseases and sarcoidosis

AIM: Endobronchial ultrasound-guided transbronchial needle aspiration (EBUS-TBNA) is a safe and minimally invasive procedure that can be performed in outpatient settings. Several studies have demonstrated the usefulness of EBUS-TBNA in the diagnosis of sarcoidosis and malignant diseases. This study focused on the role of cell block (CB) analysis in determining the diagnostic yield of EBUS-TBNA in malignant diseases and sarcoidosis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The study was conducted at a training and research hospital. Records of patients who underwent EBUS-TBNA between March 2011 and December 2014 for diagnosed sarcoidosis or malignancy were retrospectively analyzed. Results of all EBUS-TBNA smears and CB were separately evaluated to determine the diagnostic value of each. RESULTS: There were 84 sarcoidosis and 179 malignancy patients. In the malignancy group, CB contributed to cancer diagnosis in 15 (8.3%) patients and subclassification in 19 (10.6%) patients. In the sarcoidosis group, for 45.2% of patients (38/84), smears were not diagnostic but CB showed granulomatous inflammation. CONCLUSION: CB significantly increases the diagnostic yield of EBUS-TBNA for sarcoidosis. In our study, in the malignancy group the diagnostic yield was low but it was helpful for subclassification, especially for adenocarcinoma.