• Takahiro Nakajima and Kazuhiro Yasufuku.
• Division of Thoracic Surgery, Toronto General Hospital, University Health Network, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
• J Thorac Oncol. 2011 Jan 1;6(1):203-6.

BackgroundEndobronchial ultrasound-guided transbronchial needle aspiration (EBUS-TBNA) is a minimally invasive modality with a high diagnostic yield for mediastinal lymph node staging of patients with lung cancer. Although limited to the use of needle aspiration during EBUS-TBNA, aspirates has been shown to be useful for molecular analysis. However, the ideal methodology of the specimen handling during EBUS-TBNA has not been described.MethodsBased on our institutional experience and review of the literature, we describe the optimal methodology for multidirectional analysis of EBUS-TBNA samples.ResultsEBUS-TBNA specimens can be used for molecular analysis such as epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), Anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK) and V-Ki-ras2 Kirsten rat sarcoma viral oncogene homolog (KRAS) mutations when processed properly. Rapid on-site cytology is invaluable during the assessment of the aspirated during EBUS-TBNA.DiscussionObtaining adequate samples through a non-surgical biopsy technique for pathologic diagnosis as well as molecular analysis will be of immediate importance for personalized management of lung cancer. EBUS-TBNA is an ideal approach that allows combined pathological and molecular analysis of metastatic lymph nodes.

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