Endobronchial Ultrasound-guided Transbronchial Needle Aspiration

Endobronchial ultrasound-guided transbronchial needle aspiration (EBUS-TBNA) is an increasingly used technique by the interventional pulmonologist in lung cancer staging and diagnosis of both malignant and benign mediastinal lymphadenopathy amongst other applications. There are increasing data to support the use of EBUS-TBNA over mediastinoscopy as a first staging or diagnostic procedure in defined situations. In this review, the technique of EBUS-TBNA is briefly discussed with a more extended discussion around comparative studies of mediastinal staging techniques, with an emphasis on the recent ASTER trial as well as impending trials and diagnostic performance studies of EBUS-TBNA in sarcoidosis.