BACKGROUND: Transbronchial needle aspiration (TBNA) with a flexible bronchoscope has been used to diagnose bronchogenic carcinoma for many years in the United States. However, little information on the subject is available in Brazil. OBJECTIVE: To assess the effectiveness of transbronchial needle aspiration in the diagnosis and staging of lung cancer. METHOD: A retrospective review was made of 74 TBNA performed at the National Cancer Institute in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. a thoracic computerized tomography had oreviouslbeen made of all patients.Eleven (15%) patients exhibited mediastinal masses and 63 (85%) hilar masses. Seventy six endoscopic alterations were detected: enlargement of the main carina in 44 (59%) patients; enlargement of the secondary carina in 12 (16%); paratracheal compression in 5 (7%); posterior tracheal wall compression in 3 (4%); main bronchus compression in 5 (7%) AND BRONCOSCOPY was normal in 5 (7%) patients. RESULTS: Specimens were satisfactory for diagnosis in 42 (57%) patients and in 34 (46%) diagnosis was confirmed. Malignancy was confirmed in 30 of 34 patients (88%): as follows: small cell undifferentiated carcinoma in 10 of 30 (33%); squamous cell lung cancer in 7 of 30 (23%); adenocarcinoma 7 of 30 (23%); and non-small cell lung cancer in 6 of 30 (20%). Four of 30 (12%) were diagnosed as bearers of benign disease: tuberculosis 2 of 4 (50%) and sarcoidosis 2 of 4 (50%). No complications related to the method were perceived. CONCLUSION: This preliminary study of TBNA in 74 patients indicated that this method is safe, easy to perform, with a minimum of complications and useful for the diagnosis and staging of pulmonary neoplasms.
Bronchoscopy; Carcinoma, bronchogenic; Aspiration
