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. 2015 Dec;7(Suppl 4):S279-86.
doi: 10.3978/j.issn.2072-1439.2015.11.36.

Transbronchial needle aspiration: development history, current status and future perspective

Huizhen Yang  1 , Yuan Zhang  1 , Ko-Pen Wang  1 , Yun Ma  1
Affiliations

Transbronchial needle aspiration: development history, current status and future perspective

Huizhen Yang et al. J Thorac Dis. 2015 Dec.

Abstract

Background: Transbronchial needle aspiration (TBNA) technology was underutilized by clinicians because it is "blind". Recent development of endobronchial ultrasound-guided transbronchial needle aspiration (EBUS-TBNA) renewed the interest and confident of TBNA. TBNA without EBUS is referred as conventional transbronchial needle aspiration (C-TBNA).

Methods: This paper focuses on C-TBNA technology development history, present situation and future development to do a detailed introduction.

Results: TBNA is a simple, cost effective and minimally invasive technique for diagnosing disease of the mediastinum and lung in adult as well as children patients.

Conclusions: More improvements of TBNA technology should be made, including employing technological advances to perfect the instruments and techniques, focusing on patient comfort, optimizing yield, simplifying instruments, maximizing ease of use and minimizing training requirements for the pulmonologist. The ideal TBNA scope deserves further evaluation and study.

Keywords: Fujifilm; Transbronchial needle aspiration (TBNA); Wang needle; endobronchial ultrasound (EBUS); rapid on-site evaluation (ROSE).

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Conflict of interest statement

Conflicts of Interest: The authors have no conflicts of interest to declare.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Station 1: anterior carina LNs are defined as LNs in front of the carina. LN, lymph node.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Station 2: posterior carina LNs are defined as LNs behind of the carina. LN, lymph node.
Figure 3
Figure 3
Station 3: right paratracheal LNs are defined as LNs above the azygos arch and more superior and lateral to the anterior carina LN. LN, lymph node.
Figure 4
Figure 4
Station 4: left paratracheal LN is defined as the LN lateral to the left lower trachea. LN, lymph node.
Figure 5
Figure 5
Station 5: right main bronchus LNs are defined as LNs inferior and lateral to the anterior carina, the puncture space should be between the first two bronchial cartilage rings anteriorly. LN, lymph node.
Figure 6
Figure 6
Station 6: left main bronchus LN is defined as anterior to the left main bronchus. LN, lymph node.
Figure 7
Figure 7
Station 7: right upper hilar LN is defined as in front of and between the right upper lobe and main bronchus. LN, lymph node.
Figure 8
Figure 8
Station 8: sub-carina LN is defined as the LN next to the medial wall of the right main bronchus. LN, lymph node.
Figure 9
Figure 9
Station 9: right lower hilar LN is defined as the LN at the anterior lateral aspect of the bronchus intermedius. LN, lymph node.
Figure 10
Figure 10
Station 10: sub-subcarinal LN is defined as medial to the bronchus intermedius. LN, lymph node.
Figure 11
Figure 11
Station 11: left hilar LN is defined as the LN in between the left upper and lower lobe bronchi. LN, lymph node.
Figure 12
Figure 12
IASLC LNs map in 2009. IASLC, International Association for the Study of Lung Cancer; LN, lymph node.
Figure 13
Figure 13
Adapter used in C-TBNA. C-TBNA, conventional transbronchial needle aspiration.
Figure 14
Figure 14
Endoscopic view of Fujifilm EBUS-TBNA. EBUS-TBNA, endobronchial ultrasound-guided transbronchial needle aspiration.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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