This review focuses on the role of endobronchial ultrasound-guided transbronchial needle aspiration in day-to-day pulmonology practice. Case examples are given of the common indications for endobronchial ultrasound-guided transbronchial needle aspiration which are: (i) lung cancer staging; (ii) confirming a diagnosis of malignancy in thoracic lymph nodes; (iii) diagnosing central pulmonary masses; (iv) sarcoidosis; and (v) inflammatory/benign thoracic lymph nodes. The technique is widely used, and after appropriate training by experienced bronchoscopists can be easily integrated into a bronchoscopy service.
Keywords: Bronchoscopy; endobronchial ultrasound; lung cancer; sarcoidosis and other granulomatosis; staging.
© Tianjin Lung Cancer Institute and Blackwell Publishing Asia Pty. Ltd.