Transbronchial EBUS-guided TBNA and Cryobiopsy of Mediastinal Lymph Nodes in Patients Nonsuspicious for Lung Cancer, Using Different Cryoprobe Freezing Times
EBUS-guided cryobiopsy of mediastinal and hilar lymph nodes has shown to be a useful diagnostic tool to obtain tissue for histological analysis and further targeted therapies in lung malignancies. Due to the large size and better quality of the tissue samples, a higher diagnostic yield than with transbronchial needle aspiration (TBNA) can be expected, especially in non-solid tumors. In previous studies different biopsy protocols were used. The freezing time of cryoprobe (which defines the sample sizes) ranged from 3 to 7 s and the number of biopsies was between 1 and 4 samples. It is therefore unclear what freezing times and biopsy frequency are required to obtain the best histological information.
• At least one mediastinal lesion or hilar 1 cm or longer in the short axis requiring diagnostic bronchoscopy
• Age between 18 and 90 years
• Written informed consent after participant's information