OBJECTIVETo explore the diagnostic value of endobronchial ultrasound-guided transbronchial needle aspiration (EBUS-TBNA) combined with Surepath liquid-based cytology test for lung and mediastinal lymphadenopathy.

METHODSEighty EBUS-TBNA cases in West China Hospital of Sichuan University collected from December 2011 to June 2014 were retrospectively analyzed. The conventional smears and Surepath liquid based preparations were reviewed and compared with histological biopsy. Evaluated whether liquid based preparation could improve the satisfactory rate and diagnostic accuracy.

RESULTSThis study included 53 men and 27 women, the male to female ratio was 1.96:1.00; the age ranged from 17 to 79 (mean 54) years. One to four lymph node groups were aspirated in each patient, resulting in a total of 109 lymph node groups, including 57 paratracheal, 34 subcarinal, three tracheal bronchial, seven pulmonary and four hilar lymph node groups. The definite locations of four other mediastinal lymph node groups were not known. The overall satisfactory rate of conventional smears and liquid-based cytology test was 90.0% and 92.5%, respectively. By histology, there were 37 cases diagnosed as malignant tumors, nine as tuberculosis, two as sarcoidosis, 11 as unexplained granulomatous inflammation, and 27 as other benign lesions. The sensitivity, specificity and accuracy of conventional cytological smears for tumors were 86.5%, 97.7% and 92.5% respectively; the positive and negative predictive values were 97.0% and 89.4% respectively. The sensitivity, specificity and accuracy of the liquid-based preparation were 89.2%, 97.7% and 93.8% respectively; the positive and negative predictive values were 97.1% and 91.3% respectively. Combining the conventional cytological smears and liquid based preparation, the sensitivity, specificity and accuracy were 91.9%, 97.7% and 95.0% respectively; and the positive and negative predictive values were 97.1% and 93.3% respectively.

CONCLUSIONSEBUS-TBNA is a good method to diagnose lung and mediastinal lymphadenopathy. Surepath liquid based cytology test could improve the sample satisfactory rate, the diagnostic sensitivity and accuracy. If combined with immunocytochemistry it could be useful for further tumor typing. EBUS-TBNA combined with Surepath liquid based preparation is an effective complement for the histologic biopsy.