Diagnostic efficacy of EBUS-TBNA in benign diseases in a population with a high prevalence of tuberculosis

Setting Although endobronchial ultrasonography-transbronchial needle aspiration (EBUS-TBNA) has a well-known place in the staging and diagnosis of lung cancer, the place of EBUS is not clear in the diagnosis of benign diseases, especially in countries with a high prevalence of tuberculosis. Aim The aim of this study is to investigate the diagnostic efficacy of EBUS-TBNA in benign diseases in a population with a high prevalence of tuberculosis. Material and methods Between October 2011 and March 2018, 1077 EBUS-TBNA was applied. Results The diagnosis was reached with mediastinoscopy or video assisted thoracic surgery (VATS) in 41 (74.5%) and with the second EBUS-TBNA performed in 14 (25.5%) of 55 EBUS practices in 41 patients with malignancy diagnosis. The final diagnosis was achieved with clinical/radiological features in 7 (77.7%) cases of sarcoidosis, with VATS/mediastinoscopy in 2 (22.2%) cases, with EBUS-TBNA performed for the second time in 6 (54.5%) tuberculosis cases and with acid-resistance bacilli reproduction in Lowenstein-Jensen culture in 5 (45.4%) cases. Two hundred and ninety-five (79.7%) patients were accepted as "benign disease" due to the absence of radiological and clinical progression of lesions in the follow-up. Conclusion The diagnostic accuracy of EBUS-TBNA is high in benign diseases such as sarcoidosis and tuberculosis.