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Review
. 2021 Nov 30;10(23):5646.
doi: 10.3390/jcm10235646.

Linear Endobronchial Ultrasound in the Era of Personalized Lung Cancer Diagnostics-A Technical Review

Filiz Oezkan  1   2   3   4 , Stephan Eisenmann  5 , Kaid Darwiche  2 , Asmae Gassa  6 , David P Carbone  1 , Robert E Merritt  7 , Peter J Kneuertz  7
Affiliations
Review

Linear Endobronchial Ultrasound in the Era of Personalized Lung Cancer Diagnostics-A Technical Review

Filiz Oezkan et al. J Clin Med. .

Abstract

Major advances in molecular profiling for available targeted treatments and immunotherapy for lung cancer have significantly increased the complexity of tissue-based diagnostics. Endobronchial ultrasound-guided transbronchial needle aspirations (EBUS-TBNA) are commonly performed for diagnostic biopsies and lymph node staging. EBUS-TBNA has increasingly become one of the main sources of tumor cells for molecular analyses. As a result, there is a growing need for high quality EBUS-TBNA samples with adequate cellularity. This has increased the technical demands of the procedure and has created additional challenges, many of which are not addressed in the current EBUS guidelines. This review provides an overview of current evidence on the technical aspects of EBUS-TBNA in light of comprehensive sample processing for personalized lung cancer management. These include sonographic lymph node characterization, optimal needle choice, suction biopsy technique, and the role of rapid on-site evaluation. Attention to these technical details will be important to maximize the throughput of EBUS-TBNA biopsies for molecular testing.

Keywords: endobronchial ultrasound; lung cancer; personalized lung cancer management.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Endobronchial ultrasound using linear probe with use of elastography of a subcarinal lymph node harboring primary lung adenocarcinoma.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Workflow for endobronchial ultrasound guided precision lung cancer diagnostics.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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