Abstract

Endoscopic ultrasound has been recently established as a routine diagnostic and staging procedure in lung cancer patients, mainly because of the possibility of tissue sampling. Transesophageal endoscopic ultrasound-guided fine needle aspiration (EUS-FNA) represents a method  which not only  allows the visualization of the upper gastrointestinal tract, but also offers good visualisation of the posterior and inferior mediastinum.  Endobronchial ultrasound-guided transbronchial needle aspiration (EBUS-TBNA) permits the assessment of the tumors in the anterior mediastinum. Based on previously published literature, it is obvious that this minimally invasive procedure  now offers the possibility of tissue diagnosis in mediastinal masses including primary tumours or secondary lesions from both benign and malignant diseases.

Keywords

Endobronchial ultrasound, transbronchial needle aspiration, endoscopic ultrasound, fine needle aspiration, lung cancer, mediastinum