ORIGINAL ARTICLE |
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Year : 2015 | Volume
: 10
| Issue : 1 | Page : 50-54 |
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Conventional transbronchial needle aspiration: From acquisition to precision
Elif Kupeli1, Pinar Seyfettin1, Merih Demirel Tepeoglu2
1 Department of Pulmonary, Baskent University School of Medicine, Ankara, Turkey 2 Department of Pathology, Baskent University School of Medicine, Ankara, Turkey
Correspondence Address:
Elif Kupeli Baskent Hastanesi Gogus Hst AD, Fevzi Cakmak Cad, 5 Sok, No 48, 06490, Bahcelievler, Ankara Turkey
 Source of Support: None, Conflict of Interest: None  | Check |
DOI: 10.4103/1817-1737.146873
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Introduction: Conventional transbronchial needle aspiration (C-TBNA) is a minimally invasive, safe, and cost-effective technique in evaluating mediastinal lymphadenopathy. Previously we reported that the skills for C-TBNA can be acquired from the books. We studied the learning curve for C-TBNA for a single bronchoscopist at a tertiary-care center where ultrasound technology remains difficult to acquire .
Methods: We prospectively collected results of the first 99 consecutively performed C-TBNA between December 2009 and 2013. Patients were divided into 3 groups: (I): First 33, (II): Next 33 and (III): Last 33. Results were categorized as malignant, non-malignant or non-diagnostic. Diagnostic yield (DY), sensitivity (SEN), specificity (SPE), positive and negative predictive values (PPV, NPV), and accuracy (ACC) were calculated to learn the learning curve for C-TBNA.
Results: Total 99 patients (M:F = 62:37), mean age 58.2 ± 11.5 years, mean LN diameter 26.9 ± 9.8 mm underwent C-TBNA. Sixty-nine patients had lymph nodes (LNs) >20 mm in diameter. Final diagnoses were established by C-TBNA in 44 (yield 44.4%), mediastinoscopy 47, transthoracic needle aspiration 5, endobronchial biopsy 2 and peripheral LN biopsy 1. C-TBNA was exclusively diagnostic in 35.4%. Group I: DY: 42.4%, 64.7% in malignancies, 19% in benign conditions (P = 0.008). SEN, SPE, PPV, NPV, ACC = 70%, 100%, 100%, 66.6%, 78.7%, respectively. Group II: DY: 54.5% (36.4% exclusive), 88.2% in malignancies and 19% benign conditions (P = 0.000). SEN, SPE, PPV, NPV, ACC=72%, 100%, 100%, 53.3%, 78.7%, respectively. Group III: DY: 36.3% (27% exclusive), 100% in malignancies and 16% in benign conditions. SEN, SPE, PPV, NPV, ACC = 92.3%, 100%, 100%, 95.2%, 97%, respectively. No difference was found in relation to LN size or location and TBNA yield.
Conclusion: C-TBNA can be easily learned and the proficiency can be attained with <66 procedures. In selected patients, its exclusivity could exceed 35%. |
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