OBJECTIVETo study the cytopathologic features of transbronchial needle aspiration (TBNA) samples and to evaluate the role of cytopathology in the diagnosis and staging of lung carcinomas, as compared to histopathology.

METHODSThree hundred seventy-four cytology specimens were collected by TBNA using 21-gauge needle, including 65 lung masses and 309 lymph nodes. Direct smears and liquid-based thin-layer preparations were performed for each case. The correlation between cytology and histopathologic diagnoses were analyzed.

RESULTSThe sensitivity, specificity, false positive rate, false negative rate and accuracy of cytopathology in diagnosing lung carcinomas by TBNA was 95.7% (88/92) (266/278), 100% (96/96), 0 (0/96), 4.3% (12/278) and 96.8% (362/374), respectively. Overall 62.8% (167/266) of the cases were precisely typed, including 95.7% (88/92) of small cell carcinoma, 73.5% (25/34) of squamous cell carcinoma and 67.9% (53/78) of adenocarcinoma. There was no statistical difference in the diagnostic accuracy of cytopathology between lung mass aspiration and mediastinal lymph node aspiration, as well as between subcarinal lymph node aspiration and other lymph node aspiration (all P > 0.05). There was also no statistical difference in the diagnostic accuracy between direct smears and liquid-based preparations (χ(2) = 0.11, P > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONSCytopathology of TBNA specimens is accurate and sensitive for diagnosing pulmonary carcinomas. In most cases, the lung carcinoma can be precisely typed. TBNA is useful for diagnosing and staging lung carcinomas.