Endobronchial ultrasonography with transbronchial needle aspiration to sample a solitary substernal thyroid nodule: a new approach.

Sampling of solitary thyroid nodules (STNs) is a common procedure performed for cytological diagnosis. The easiest and safest method is ultrasound guided fine needle aspiration biopsy (US-FNAB). This technique is usually performed under local anaesthesia in an office setting. In contrast, sampling a substernal STN could prove to be more difficult and problematic, and sometimes requires more invasive procedures. We describe a case of substernal thyroid nodule, where malignancy was excluded using endobronchial ultrasonography with transbronchial fine needle aspiration (EBUS-TBNA). We emphasise the feasibility and safety of EBUS-TBNA in sampling retrosternal thyroid nodules. In appropriate settings, this procedure can help avoid more invasive testing, and subsequently decrease the cost and complications.