BACKGROUND: Most of the published endobronchial ultrasound-guided transbronchial needle aspiration (EBUS-TBNA) data are from the western countries, establishing the role of EBUS-TBNA in the diagnosis and staging of lung cancer. The etiology of mediastinal lymphadenopathy may be different in an ethnic group with a high prevalence of tuberculosis (TB). OBJECTIVE: To assess the etiology of mediastinal adenopathy in a high TB prevalence setting and to determine the performance of various tests in the diagnosis of tuberculous mediastinal lymphadenitis. METHODS: Retrospective analysis of bronchoscopic data of patients who underwent endobronchial ultrasound (EBUS) in a tertiary care center in India. RESULTS: Out of 138 patients who underwent EBUS, 63 (46%) had granulomatous disease. Of the 35 patients with a diagnosis of TB, in 10 (29%), microbiology of EBUS specimens was diagnostic and in 3 (9%), this was the sole diagnostic feature. In 5 (14%) mycobacterial cultures were positive, in 6 (17%) GeneXpert for Mycobacterium tuberculosis/rifampicin resistance (Xpert MTB/RIF) was positive, and in 3 (9%) acid fast smears were positive. CONCLUSION: In high TB prevalence countries, EBUS diagnoses a higher number of granulomatous than malignant diseases. EBUS specimen should, therefore, be subjected also to mycobacterial smear, culture, and Xpert MTB/RIF for optimal results.
BACKGROUND: Most of the published endobronchial ultrasound-guided transbronchial needle aspiration (EBUS-TBNA) data are from the western countries, establishing the role of EBUS-TBNA in the diagnosis and staging of lung cancer. The etiology of mediastinal lymphadenopathy may be different in an ethnic group with a high prevalence of tuberculosis (TB). OBJECTIVE: To assess the etiology of mediastinal adenopathy in a high TB prevalence setting and to determine the performance of various tests in the diagnosis of tuberculous mediastinal lymphadenitis. METHODS: Retrospective analysis of bronchoscopic data of patients who underwent endobronchial ultrasound (EBUS) in a tertiary care center in India. RESULTS: Out of 138 patients who underwent EBUS, 63 (46%) had granulomatous disease. Of the 35 patients with a diagnosis of TB, in 10 (29%), microbiology of EBUS specimens was diagnostic and in 3 (9%), this was the sole diagnostic feature. In 5 (14%) mycobacterial cultures were positive, in 6 (17%) GeneXpert for Mycobacterium tuberculosis/rifampicin resistance (Xpert MTB/RIF) was positive, and in 3 (9%) acid fast smears were positive. CONCLUSION: In high TB prevalence countries, EBUS diagnoses a higher number of granulomatous than malignant diseases. EBUS specimen should, therefore, be subjected also to mycobacterial smear, culture, and Xpert MTB/RIF for optimal results.
Authors: Prashant N Chhajed; Preyas J Vaidya; Neha P Mandovra; Vinod B Chavhan; Tejashree T Lele; Rekha Nair; Jörg D Leuppi; Avinandan Saha Journal: ERJ Open Res Date: 2019-11-15