EBUS was good at differentiating new lung cancer from recurrence

Anraku et al report a series of 40 patients previously treated for lung cancer who underwent endobronchial ultrasound guided transbronchial needle aspiration for new mediastinal or hilar abnormalities between 2008-2010 at University of Toronto.

After EBUS-TBNA of mediastinal/hilar lymph nodes, 28 of 40 were found to have lung cancer. In 21, an identical cell type as their primary cancer suggested recurrence. In 7, the cancer was a new cell type and believed to be a new primary. Ann Thorac Surg 2011;92:251-255.