Endobronchial ultrasound guided transbronchial needle aspiration for staging of lung cancer

During the staging process of lung cancer, accurate mediastinal lymph node staging is one of the important factors which affect patient management. The purpose of the current study was to evaluate the usefulness of direct real-time endobronchial ultrasound guided transbronchial needle aspiration (EBUS-TBNA) for staging and diagnosis of lung cancer in patients with mediastinal lymph nodes suspected of malignancy and to assess the impact of this method in patient management. One hundred and eight patients with mediastinal lymph nodes with known or suspected lung cancer were included. The convex probe EBUS integrated with a convex scanning probe on its tip was used in all cases. Final diagnosis was based on cytology, surgical results, and/or clinical follow-up.

In 105 patients, EBUS-TBNA was successfully performed to obtain samples from 163 lymph nodes. With respect to the correct prediction of lymph node stage, EBUS-TBNA had a sensitivity of 94.6%, specificity of 100%, positive predictive value of 100%, negative predictive value of 89.5%, and diagnostic accuracy rate of 96.3%. In the 20 suspected lung cancer cases, mediastinal lymph node was used for tissue diagnosis of malignancy as well as staging. As a result of EBUS-TBNA, 29 mediastinoscopies, 8 thoracotomies, 4 thoracoscopies, and 9 CT-guided PCNB were avoided. The procedure was uneventful without complications. EBUS-TBNA is a safe and sensitive method for lymph node staging in patients with lung cancer. It spares invasive staging procedures which has a major impact on patient management.     

超声支气管镜引导下针吸活检术在非小细胞肺癌诊断及其淋巴结分期评估中的价值研究#br#

目的探讨超声支气管镜引导下针吸活检术（EBUS TBNA）在非小细胞肺癌（NSCLC）诊断及其淋巴结分期评估中的价值。方法选取新疆医科大学第八附属医院2019年8月至2020年8月收治的经胸部CT检查显示纵隔或肺门淋巴结肿大或肺内肿块疑似肺癌的患者118例,均行EBUS TBNA检查,以病理学诊断结果为最终诊断,分析EBUS TBNA对NSCLC的诊断价值,并探查所有可及的纵隔与肺门淋巴结,对淋巴结试行穿刺,分析穿刺部位分布、EBUS TBNA诊断分型、EBUS TBNA对NSCLC淋巴结分期评估价值及并发症。结果118例患者中有116例经临床病理学诊断确诊为NSCLC,经EBUS TBNA检查确诊111例,准确度为9407%（111/118）,灵敏度为9569%（111/116）,特异度为10000%（2/2）,阳性预测值为10000%（111/111）,阴性预测值为2857%（2/7）。116例患者经EBUS TBNA检查共获得来自不同部位的142个淋巴结样本,其中纵隔淋巴结108个,肺门淋巴结34个,4R、7、11R为最常累及的淋巴结。EBUS TBNA检查对纵隔淋巴结和肺门淋巴结评估的灵敏度分别为9485%、7917%,特异度分别为10000%、10000%,阳性预测值分别为10000%、10000%,阴性预测值分别为6875%、6667%,准确度分别为9537%、8529%,Kappa值分别为0789、0691,与病理诊断结果的一致性良好。EBUS TBNA评估NSCLC淋巴结N0、N1、N2、N3期的准确度分别为9500%、9444%、9792%、9167%。共有6例（517%）患者发生轻微并发症,经相关处理后均有所好转。结论EBUS TBNA对NSCLC及淋巴结分期均有较高的诊断价值。     

Endobronchial ultrasound-guided transbronchial needle aspiration for staging of lung cancer: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Study objectivesRecently, less invasive methods have emerged as potential alternatives for staging with tissue confirmation of suspected metastatic mediastinal lymph nodes in lung cancer. The objective of this review was to assess the overall diagnostic accuracy of EBUS-TBNA in detecting metastatic mediastinal lymph node in lung cancer with a meta-analysis.MethodsThe MEDLINE, EMBASE, Cancerlit and Cochrane Library database, from January 1995 to September 2008, were searched for studies evaluating EBUS-TBNA accuracy. Meta-analysis methods were used to pool sensitivity and specificity and to construct summary receiver-operating characteristic.ResultsA total of 11 studies with 1299 patients, who fulfilled all of the inclusion criteria, were considered for the analysis. No publication bias was found. EBUS-TBNA had a pooled sensitivity of 0.93 (95% CI, 0.91–0.94) and a pooled specificity of 1.00 (95% CI, 0.99–1.00). The subgroup of patients who were selected on the basis of CT or PET positive results had higher pooled sensitivity (0.94, 95% CI 0.93–0.96) than the subgroup of patients without any selection of CT or PET (0.76, 95% CI 0.65–0.85) (p < 0.05). Study sensitivity was not correlated with the prevalence of lymph node metastasis. Only two complications occurred (0.15%).ConclusionEBUS-TBNA was an accurate, safe and cost-effective tool in lung cancer staging. The selection of patients who had positive results of suspected lymph node metastasis in CT or PET may improve the sensitivity of EBUS-TBNA. High-quality prospective studies regarding EBUS-TBNA in lung cancer staging are still needed to be conducted.     

EBUS-TBNA和纵隔镜检查术在纵隔淋巴结诊断与分期中的对照研究

以影像学纵隔淋巴结异常的患者为研究对象,比较EBUS-TBNA和纵隔镜检查术诊断纵隔淋巴结转移和肺癌纵隔分期的价值。方法:对纵隔淋巴结异常的患者先行EBUS-TBNA,不管EBUS-TBNA的结果如何,再行纵隔镜检查术。以病理结果或临床随访为标准,比较两者在诊断纵隔淋巴结转移和肺癌纵隔分期中的价值。结果:2009年12月至2011年4月期间,共33例患者纳入分析,其中23例最后确诊为肺癌,10例为良性病变;EBUS-TBNA和纵隔镜检查术对肺癌纵隔淋巴结分期的敏感性、特异性和准确率相同,分别为90.0%、100%和91.3%;诊断肺癌纵隔淋巴结转移的敏感性、特异度和准确率分别为88.5%、100%、91.4%和80.8%、100%、85.7%,差异无统计学意义;3例开胸术的患者未发现新的纵隔淋巴结转移;EBUS-TBNA检出90%（18/20）的阳性患者,但其中仅5例诊断出癌细胞或非小细胞肺癌;5组纵隔镜检查术假阴性的淋巴结有2组位于隆突下淋巴结。结论:EBUS-TBNA在肺癌纵隔分期和纵隔淋巴结转移诊断中的价值与纵隔镜检查术相似,两者具有互补性。对EBUS-TBNA阴性或者病理不能具体分型的患者,需再行纵隔镜检查术。      

Evolving role of interventional pulmonology in the interdisciplinary approach to the staging and management of lung cancer: bronchoscopic mediastinal staging of lung cancer

Mediastinal lymph node involvement is present in 26%-38% of patients with non-small-cell lung cancer at the time of diagnosis, and it is often the most significant factor in determining surgical resectability. Complete and accurate mediastinal staging of lung cancer is essential for determining prognosis and for guiding optimal treatment strategies. Computed tomography and positron emission tomography are the most widely used noninvasive means for mediastinal staging in lung cancer. However, based on their reported specificities, computed tomography and positron emission tomography findings should be verified by cytohistologic sampling. In recent decades, the technique of transbronchial needle aspiration (TBNA) has been developed, permitting the bronchoscopist to obtain cytohistologic material from the hilar and mediastinal lymph nodes adjacent to the tracheobronchial wall. The technique of TBNA has a great specificity, is safe and cost-effective compared with surgical methods, and can be performed during the initial diagnostic bronchoscopy. Transbronchial needle aspiration sensitivity is 76%-78% but is highly influenced by several factors. Endobronchial ultrasound has been proposed as a means for improving TBNA sensitivity. Recently, a new type of bronchoscope with a built-in convex ultrasound probe directly attached to the tip has been developed to guide TBNA under real-time imaging. Reports on this innovative technique reveal a sensitivity of 94%-95.7%, which is superior to the reported sensitivity of surgical methods. However, ultrasound-guided TBNA and traditional TBNA should be considered complementary techniques, because their integration is likely to become the optimal staging strategy for patients with lung cancer.     

经支气管镜淋巴结针吸活检对肺癌的诊断意义

目的评价经支气管镜淋巴结针吸活检（TBNA）在纵隔肺门肿大淋巴结诊断中的作用。方法对CT检查发现纵隔肺门淋巴结肿大,但估计支气管镜检查不能发现气管或支气管内新生物的77例患者,在支气管镜检查过程中完成TBNA操作,直接涂片送检。结果38例诊断为肺癌,35例诊断为肺部良性疾病,4例最终无明确诊断。77例患者共穿刺128个部位,225针,其中TBNA穿刺成功222针（98．7％）。35例肺部良性疾病的TBNA总结果均为阴性。38例肺癌患者中,TBNA总结果阳性31例（81．6％）,其中9例患者TBNA涂片为惟一病理学证据。38例肺癌患者共穿刺63个淋巴结,其中TBNA结果阳性41例（65．1％）。TBNA结果的阳性率与病理类型和淋巴结大小有关。TBNA不良反应很少,52例（67．5％）患者穿刺部位少量出血。结论TBNA安全性好,对肺癌的诊断和分期判定有很大帮助,但对肺部良性疾病的诊断帮助不大。     

Evolving Role of Interventional Pulmonology in the Interdisciplinary Approach to the Staging and Management of Lung Cancer: Bronchoscopic Mediastinal Staging of Lung Cancer

Mediastinal lymph node involvement is present in 26%–38% of patients with non–small-cell lung cancer at the time of diagnosis, and it is often the most significant factor in determining surgical resectability. Complete and accurate mediastinal staging of lung cancer is essential for determining prognosis and for guiding optimal treatment strategies. Computed tomography and positron emission tomography are the most widely used noninvasive means for mediastinal staging in lung cancer. However, based on their reported specificities, computed tomography and positron emission tomography findings should be verified by cytohistologic sampling. In recent decades, the technique of transbronchial needle aspiration (TBNA) has been developed, permitting the bronchoscopist to obtain cytohistologic material from the hilar and mediastinal lymph nodes adjacent to the tracheobronchial wall. The technique of TBNA has a great specificity, is safe and cost-effective compared with surgical methods, and can be performed during the initial diagnostic bronchoscopy. Transbronchial needle aspiration sensitivity is 76%–78% but is highly influenced by several factors. Endobronchial ultrasound has been proposed as a means for improving TBNA sensitivity. Recently, a new type of bronchoscope with a built-in convex ultrasound probe directly attached to the tip has been developed to guide TBNA under real-time imaging. Reports on this innovative technique reveal a sensitivity of 94%–95.7%, which is superior to the reported sensitivity of surgical methods. However, ultrasound-guided TBNA and traditional TBNA should be considered complementary techniques, because their integration is likely to become the optimal staging strategy for patients with lung cancer.     

Mediastinal staging of lung cancer: novel concepts

Clinical TNM staging is the standard method used to decide treatment for patients with non-small-cell lung cancer. Although integrated fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) PET CT increases the accuracy of staging, it only guides direct tissue sampling. Histological assessment of mediastinal lymph nodes has traditionally been done with mediastinoscopy, a surgical procedure. Endobronchial and oesophageal ultrasound-guided lymph node sampling have been assessed as additions or alternatives to mediastinoscopy. We review endosonography and surgical staging, and show that both have a place in the mediastinal staging of lung cancer. We conclude that mediastinal tissue staging should preferentially start with a complete endosonographic assessment. A surgical mediastinoscopy should be reserved for those in whom the endosonography result is negative. Further refinement of this recommendation is likely in the near future because data suggest that the confirmatory mediastinoscopy is particularly useful for patients with enlarged or FDG-avid lymph nodes.     

液基细胞病理检测结合经支气管针吸活检在非小细胞肺癌分期中的临床应用

目的 探讨液基细胞病理检测（LCT）结合经支气管针吸活检（TBNA）在非小细胞肺癌（NSCLC）纵隔淋巴结分期中的应用价值。方法 回顾性分析2011年8月至2013年12月在宝鸡市中心医院经常规电子支气管镜检查组织学确诊并最终行手术切除的NSCLC患者96例。术前均行TBNA纵隔淋巴结分期,穿刺物分别行常规涂片（CS）法与LCT法处理;全组患者均行肺癌根治切除术及淋巴结清扫术,分析LCT法检测结合TBNA对NSCLC术前纵隔淋巴结分期的准确率。结果 96例患者经TBNA检查7个部位共258组淋巴结, TBNA穿刺成功519针。 LCT法检测219组淋巴结阳性,阳性率为84.88%（219/258）,高于CS法检测的54.65%（141/258）,差异有统计学意义（P<0.05）。LCT法纵隔淋巴结分期的准确率为93.75%（90/96）,高于CS法的62.5%（60/96）,差异有统计学意义（P<0.05）。96例患者均能耐受并成功完成TBNA,未出现大出血、纵隔感染等并发症。结论 LCT法结合TBNA能有效提高NSCLC纵隔淋巴结分期的准确率,值得临床推广应用。     

宫颈病变卡波济肉瘤相关疱疹病毒感染状况分析

  目的   了解宫颈病变卡波济肉瘤相关疱疹病毒（KSHV）感染状况,探讨KSHV感染与宫颈病变的关系。   方法   选择组织学确诊为宫颈上皮内瘤变（CIN）和宫颈癌（SCC）的病例440例作为研究组,同区域、同期就诊或体检并排除有宫颈病变的女性380例为对照组,分别采集血液和宫颈脱落细胞标本,提取DNA,巢式PCR检测KSHV ORF26,核酸电泳观察结果。   结果   研究组血液样品KSHV检出率12.9%（53/412）,对照组检出率6.5%（23/354）,两组差异有统计学意义（P < 0.01）,但宫颈脱落细胞样品中未能检出KSHV;对研究组作分层分析,KSHV检出率随年龄增加、宫颈病变程度加重而升高,差异有统计学意义（P < 0.05）。   结论   宫颈病变女性KSHV检出率高于正常女性,感染率随宫颈病变程度加重而升高,应加强监测。      

Endobronchial ultrasound for diagnosis of synchronous primary lung cancers

Endobronchial ultrasound guided transbronchial needle aspiration (EBUS-TBNA) has recently been shown to be accurate in diagnosis and staging of mediastinal lymph node metastases. We report a case of squamous cell carcinoma diagnosed by endobronchial biopsy with concomitant contralateral hilar lymph node metastasis from small cell carcinoma being confirmed by EBUS-TBNA. The diagnosis of synchronous primary lung cancers in this case, which altered the treatment strategy, would not be made if pathological staging of intrathoracic lymph node was not pursued. The unique role of EBUS-TBNA in diagnosis of hilar lymphadenopathy was underscored. The potential pitfall of missing synchronous lung tumour if the diagnosis is based either on sampling from intrathoracic lymph node or from endobronchial lesion alone is discussed.     

经支气管纵隔淋巴结针吸活检112例结果分析

目的:探讨经支气管针吸活检（transbronchial needle aspiration,TBNA）对肿大纵隔淋巴结诊断的应用价值。方法:回顾性分析2011年8月至2013年12月间在宝鸡市中心医院呼吸内科112例行胸部CT检查发现纵隔淋巴结肿大的病例,均行TBNA检查,总结穿刺结果及评价该技术的诊断价值和安全性。结果: 112例患者经TBNA检查7个部位共197组淋巴结,TBNA穿刺共410针,其中成功394针（96.1%）。95例恶性肿瘤患者中,TBNA总结果阳性90例（94.74%）,其中32例患者的TBNA结果是唯一病理学依据。32例患者行肺癌根治术,以术后淋巴结病理结果为参考,TBNA判断肺癌纵隔淋巴结分期诊断的敏感性、特异性、准确性、阳性预测值和阴性预测值分别是96.05%、100%、96.51%、100%、76.92%。22例TBNA阴性患者中,除6例经过TBNA确诊为结节病外,其余经开胸手术确诊,1例为淋巴瘤,4例为纵隔淋巴结转移癌,11例为阴性。在纵隔肿大淋巴结诊断中,敏感性、特异性和准确性分别为92.63%,100%和93.75%。小细胞肺癌TBNA的阳性率高于非小细胞肺癌,P＜0.01。直径≥3cm淋巴结TBNA的阳性率稍高,但差异无统计学意义。结论:TBNA对纵隔淋巴结诊断有很大帮助,且安全易行,值得基层医院临床推广应用。     

Cytology of endobronchial ultrasound‐guided transbronchial needle aspiration versus conventional transbronchial needle aspiration

BACKGROUND:

Conventional endoscopic transbronchial needle aspiration (TBNA) is a common procedure used to obtain samples for diagnosing and staging lung lesions. Recently, endobronchial ultrasound‐guided transbronchial needle aspiration (EBUS‐TBNA) has been developed and increasingly used by clinicians. Clinical data suggest that EBUS‐TBNA has higher sensitivity and specificity than conventional TBNA in staging lung cancers. In this study, the authors have investigated the cytological features and compared the diagnostic yield of these procedures in lung cancer patients.

METHODS:

A computer search of the cytopathology archives at The Johns Hopkins Hospital revealed 188 EBUS‐TBNA cases (308 lymph nodes; 47 lung lesions) and 74 TBNA cases (106 lymph nodes; 44 lung lesions) over a 28‐month period. All cytological material was correlated with available corresponding surgical material.

RESULTS:

The most frequently sampled lymph nodes were stations 4R and 7 in both TBNA and EBUS‐TBNA; in addition, the EBUS‐TBNA showed a wide range of lymph node sampling. EBUS‐TBNA had a significantly lower nondiagnostic rate (8.7%) compared with TBNA (28.3%, P < .05) in staging lung cancers. In lymph node sampling, the sensitivity and specificity were 54.5% and 100% in the TBNA group and 85.2% and 100% in the EBUS‐TBNA group. In lung specimens, the nondiagnostic rates of TBNA and EBUS‐TBNA were 6.8% and 4.3%, respectively (P > .05), and the sensitivity and specificity were 78.9% and 100% in the TBNA group; and 89.5% and 100% in the EBUS‐TBNA group.

CONCLUSIONS:

Findings indicated that EBUS‐FNA cytology is an optimal modality for diagnosing and staging in lung cancer patients, in comparison to conventional TBNA. Cancer (Cancer Cytopathol) 2010. © 2010 American Cancer Society.     

纵隔镜手术在临床N2期肺癌中的应用价值

背景与目的探讨纵隔镜手术在临床N2期肺癌纵隔淋巴结病理分期中的应用价值。方法回顾性总结1999年9月-2008年4月87例经纵隔镜检查的肺癌患者的临床资料,其中颈部纵隔镜手术83例,胸骨旁视纵隔镜手术4例。术前所有患者胸部CT均发现同侧纵隔和(或)隆突下淋巴结肿大(直径>1.0cm)。结果本组87例患者,经纵隔镜检查证实纵隔淋巴结转移(阳性)者61例,未见纵隔淋巴结转移(阴性)者26例。纵隔镜检查阴性者中转开胸行肺叶切除或肺楔型切除加纵隔淋巴结清扫,术后病理证实24例纵隔淋巴结未见转移,2例隆突后淋巴结可见癌转移(纵隔镜检查假阴性)。纵隔镜手术敏感性、特异性和准确性分别为96.8%、100%和97.7%。本组术中发生无名动脉撕裂1例,并发症发生率为1.1%(1/87)。无围手术期死亡。结论纵隔镜手术安全、可靠,是明确临床N2期肺癌纵隔淋巴结是否转移的有效方法。     

Maximum standardized uptake value on PET/CT in preoperative assessment of lymph node metastasis from thoracic esophageal squamous cell carcinoma

The presence of lymph node metastasis is an important prognostic factor for patients with esophageal cancer. Accurate assessment of lymph nodes in thoracic esophageal carcinoma is essential for selecting appropriate treatment and forecasting disease progression. Positron emission tomography combined with computed tomography （PET/CT） is becoming an important tool in the workup of esophageal carcinoma. Here, we evaluated the effectiveness of the maximum standardized uptake value （SUVmax） in assessing lymph node metastasis in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma （ESCC） prior to surgery. Fifty-nine surgical patients with pathologically confirmed thoracic ESCC were retrospectively studied. These patients underwent radical esophagectomy with pathologic evaluation of lymph nodes. They all had 18F-FDG PET/CT scans in their preoperative staging procedures. None had a prior history of cancer. The pathologic status and PET/CT SUVmax of lymph nodes were collected to calculate the receiver operating characteristic （ROC） curve and to determine the best cutoff value of the PET/CT SUVmax to distinguish benign from malignant lymph nodes. Lymph node data from 27 others were used for the validation. A total of 323 lymph nodes including 39 metastatic lymph nodes were evaluated in the training cohort, and 117 lymph nodes including 32 metastatic lymph nodes were evaluated in the validation cohort. The cutoff point of the SUVmax for lymph nodes was 4.1, as calculated by ROC curve （sensitivity, 80%; specificity, 92%; accuracy, 90%）. When this cutoff value was applied to the validation cohort, a sensitivity, a specificity, and an accuracy of 81%, 88%, and 86%, respectively, were obtained. These results suggest that the SUVmax of lymph nodes predicts malignancy. Indeed, when an SUVmax of 4.1 was used instead of 2.5, FDG-PET/ CT was more accurate in assessing nodal metastasis.     

Towards a minimally invasive staging strategy in NSCLC: analysis of PET positive mediastinal lesions by EUS-FNA

STUDY OBJECTIVE: To asses the value of endoscopic ultrasound guided fine needle aspiration (EUS-FNA) in the nodal staging of patients with (suspected) non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and a (18)FDG positron emission tomography (PET) scan suspect for N2/N3 mediastinal lymph node (MLN) metastases. BACKGROUND: Due to the imperfect specificity of positron emission tomography, PET positive MLN should be biopsied in order to confirm or rule out metastasis. Currently, invasive surgical diagnostic techniques such as mediastinoscopy/-tomy are standard procedures to obtain MLN tissue. The minimally invasive technique of EUS-FNA has a high diagnostic accuracy (90-94%) for the analysis of MLN in patients with enlarged MLN on computed tomography of the chest (CT). DESIGN AND PATIENTS: Thirty-six patients with proven n=26 or suspected n=10 non-small cell lung cancer and a PET scan suspect for N2/N3 lymph node metastases underwent EUS-FNA. When EUS-FNA did not confirm metastasis and the PET lesion was within reach of mediastinoscopy, a mediastinoscopy was performed. EUS-FNA negative patients with PET lesions beyond the reach of mediastinoscopy or those with a negative mediastinoscopy were referred for surgical resection of the tumour and MLN sampling or dissection. RESULTS: EUS-FNA confirmed N2/N3 disease in 25 of the 36 patients (69%) and was highly suspicious in one. In the remaining 10 patients, one PET positive and one PET negative N2 metastasis was detected at thoracotomy. The PPV, NPV, sensitivity, specificity and accuracy of EUS-FNA in analysing PET positive MLN were 100%, 80%, 93%, 100% and 94%, respectively. No complications of EUS-FNA were recorded. CONCLUSIONS AND SIGNIFICANCE: EUS-FNA yields minimally invasive confirmation of MLN metastases in 69% of the patients with potential mediastinal involvement at FDG PET. The combination of PET and EUS-FNA might qualify as a minimally invasive staging strategy for NSCLC.     

Assessment of SHOX2 methylation in EBUS-TBNA specimen improves accuracy in lung cancer staging

BackgroundEndobronchial ultrasound with transbronchial needle aspiration (EBUS-TBNA) is a well-established method to assess mediastinal lymph nodes for lung cancer. However, a proportion of patients require further investigation, due to the low negative predictive value (NPV). The objective of this study was to determine whether the assessment of short stature homeobox 2 (SHOX2) DNA methylation level in lymph node tissue obtained by EBUS-TBNA improves the accuracy of mediastinal staging.Patients and methodsEBUS-TBNA was carried out for suspicious lymph nodes of 154 patients. Negative or ambiguous histological results were confirmed by surgical means and clinical follow-up over 6 months. EBUS-TBNA was assessed on 80 positive and 85 negative classified lymph nodes and compared with the result of the SHOX2 DNA methylation real-time PCR analysis. Relative methylation measured by delta–delta cycle threshold (ΔΔCt) was used to classify the samples. Clinical performance of the EBUS-TBNA procedure with and without the additional SHOX2 assessment was calculated against the final classification according to the gold standard.ResultsBased on data from 105 patients, an average 80-fold increase in the SHOX2 methylation level was measured for positive compared with negative lymph nodes. SHOX2 results with a ΔΔCt value of <6.5 indicate positive lymph nodes. Applying this molecular analysis to EBUS-TBNA cases, not diagnosed by pathologic assessment, the sensitivity of staging was improved by 17%–99%. The NPV increased from 80% to 99%.ConclusionsThe combination of EBUS-TBNA and SHOX2 methylation level strongly improves the assessment of the nodal status by identifying additional malignant lesions and confirming benign nodes and therefore avoiding invasive follow-up procedures.     

18F—FDGPET／CT在非小细胞肺癌纵隔淋巴结转移上的诊断价值

目的探讨PET／CT在非小细胞肺癌纵隔淋巴结转移上的诊断价值。方法对33例术前行全身18F—FDGPET／CT检查发现肺内病灶,并行根治性手术及系统纵隔淋巴结清扫患者的PET／CT图像进行分析,记录淋巴结短径、CT值、SUVmax等,同时对患者的图像进行视觉分析,应用PET／CT综合分析法对纵隔内淋巴结进行诊断,并与病理结果对照。结果常规CT法对纵隔内淋巴结诊断的准确率为84．1％,常规PET法诊断的准确率为82．8％,常规PET／CT法对纵隔内淋巴结诊断的准确率为91．7％,PET／CT综合分析法的诊断准确率为95．2％,只有5例良性淋巴结误诊为恶性。8例肺癌伴纵隔或肺门淋巴结转移,其中5例肺癌病灶位于肺野内带。结论18F—FDGPET／CT综合分析法对纵隔淋巴结诊断的准确率较高,优于常规CT、常规PET以及常规PET／CT法（）（2=15．1,P〈0．05）;肺癌病灶位于肺野内带者较易发生纵隔或肺门淋巴结的转移。     

Endobronchial ultrasound-guided transbronchial needle biopsy for M1 staging of extrathoracic malignancies

Background: Extrathoracic malignancies metastasize to the mediastinum and/or pulmonary hilum. Mediastinoscopy and thoracoscopy are standard to obtain tissue proof of metastatic spread but are invasive. Endobronchial ultrasound with real-time-guided transbronchial fine-needle aspiration (EBUS-TBNA) is a minimally invasive alternative for surgical staging of lung cancer.Methods: We analysed the test characteristics of EBUS-TBNA in consecutive patients with a suspicion of mediastinal or hilar metastases of various extrathoracic malignancies.Results: Ninety-two patients with concurrent (n = 33) or previously diagnosed and treated (n = 59) extrathoracic malignancies were evaluated. EBUS-TBNA detected mediastinal or hilar metastatic spread in 52 patients (57%) [metastasis of extrathoracic tumour in 40 (44%) and second malignancies (lung cancer) in 12 (13%)]. Subsequent surgical staging showed malignancy in another nine patients. With EBUS-TBNA, an alternate diagnosis was found in four. Sensitivity and negative predictive value for mediastinal or hilar metastatic spread were 85% [95% confidence interval (CI) 73–93] and 76% (95% CI 59–88). EBUS-TBNA prevented an invasive surgical procedure in 61% of the patients. One patient had a respiratory arrest during EBUS-TBNA; abortion lead to full recovery without further intervention.Conclusions: EBUS-TBNA is a minimally invasive method for M staging of patients with extrathoracic malignancies to confirm mediastinal or hilar spread. EBUS-TBNA therefore may qualify as an alternative for surgical staging.     

Positron emission tomography in nonsmall cell lung cancer

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: Positron emission tomography (PET) has become a major adjunct to structural imaging for nonsmall cell lung cancer. Established indications are the differential diagnosis of lung nodules, as well as mediastinal lymph node and extrathoracic staging. RECENT FINDINGS: More details for small or faint pulmonary nodules became available--information of interest in the era of lung cancer screening trials, in which PET might help to reduce unwanted invasive procedures for benign findings. The strength of PET in mediastinal staging (its high negative predictive value) was confirmed in a randomized study, in which PET reduced the number of invasive procedures without loss of accuracy in staging. Isolated positive lesions that are decisive for radical compared with palliative treatment should be confirmed by other tests, as they may be benign or due to second primary cancer. PET with integrated computed tomography (CT) may guide modern radiotherapy, by improving radiation fields. Integrated PET-CT is a promising tool in the indication for surgery in stage IIIA-N2 patients after induction treatment. Predictive values for lymph node downstaging become in acceptable ranges and PET response in the primary tumor could be clearly linked to pathologic response and survival. SUMMARY: In recent years, PET has seen further refinements in established indications and definition of new indications.