**Pathological Diagnosis with Endobronchial Ultrasonography — Guided Transbronchial Needle Aspiration (EBUS-TBNA)**

Atsushi Kitamura and Yuichi Takiguchi

Additional information is available at the end of the chapter

http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/55030

### **1. Introduction**

[22] Costabel U. CD4/CD8 ratios in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid: of value for diagnosing

[24] Shorr AF, Torrington KG, Hnatiuk OW. Endobronchial biopsy for sarcoidosis: a pro‐

[25] Plit M, Perason R, Da Costa J, Glanville AR. The diagnostic utility of endobronchial ultrasound-guided transbronchial needle aspiration compared to transbronchial and endobronchial biopsy for suspected sarcoidosis. Internal Medicine Journal 2011;42(4):

[26] Navani N, Booth HL, Kocjan G, Falzon M, Capitanio A, Brown JM et al. Combination of endobronchial ultrasound guided transbronchial needle aspiration with standard bronchoscopic techniques for the diagnosis of stage I and stage II pulmonary sarcoi‐

[27] Medford AR, Agrawal S. Single bronchoscope combined endoscopic-endobronchial ultrasound guided fine-needle aspiration for tuberculous mediastinal nodes. Chest

[28] Hwangbo B, Lee GK, Lee HS, Lim KY, Lee SH, Kim HY, Lee HS, Kim MS, Lee JM, Nam BH, Zo JL. Transbronchial and transoesophageal fine-needle aspiration using an ultrasound bronchoscope in mediastinal staging of potentially operable lung can‐

[29] Wildi SM, Judson MA, Friag M, Fickling E, Schmulewitz N, Varadarajulu S, Roberts SS, Prasad P, Hawes RH, Wallace MB, Hoffman BJ. Is endosonography guided fine needle aspiration (EUS-FNA) for sarcoidosis as good as we think. Thorax 2004; 59:

[30] Yanardag H, Caner M, Papila I, Uygun S, Demirci S, Karayel T. Diagnostic value of peripheral lymph node biopsy in sarcoidosis: A report of 67 cases. Can Respir J 2007;

[31] Nakajima T, Yasufuku K, Kurisu K, Takiguchi Y, Fugiwara T, Chiyo M, Shibuya K, Hiroshima K, Nakatani Y, Yoshino I. The role of EBUS-TBNA for the diagnosis of sarcoidosis – comparisons with other bronchoscopic diagnostic modalities. Respira‐

[32] Tournoy KG, Bolly A, Aerts JG, Pierard P, De Pauw R, Leduc D et al. The value of endoscopic ultrasound after bronchoscopy to diagnose thoracic sarcoidosis. Eur Re‐

[33] Herth H, Gompelmann D, Kahn N, Gasparini S, Ernst A, Schuhmann M, Eberhardt R. Endobronchial ultrasound-guided lymph node biopsy with transbronchial needle

[23] de Boer S, Wilsher M. Sarcoidosis. Chronic respiratory disease 2010;7(4): 247-258

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dosis. Respirology 2011;16(3): 467-72

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256 Sarcoidosis

2010;138(5):1274

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The diagnosis of sarcoidosis is based on clinico-radiological findings and histological evidence of non-caseating epithelioid-cell granulomas [1]. Traditionally, if pulmonary sarcoidosis is suspected, pathological diagnostic materials are often obtained using conventional bronchosco‐ py together with procedures such as bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) for evaluation of disease activity, transbronchial needle aspiration (TBNA) for hilar/mediastinal lymph node lesions, transbronchial lung biopsy (TBLB) for lung parenchymal lesions, and transbronchial biopsy (TBB) for endobronchial lesions. In most cases, however, definitive pathological diagnosis of this disease mainly depends on TBLB for lung parenchymal lesions because hilar/mediastinal lymph node lesions are often difficult to access and endobronchial lesions are uncommon. The diagnostic yield of TBLB in this disease is reportedly about 40–90% when several biopsy samples are obtained [2, 3]. When mediastinal or hilar lymphadenopathy is detected on computed tomography (CT) and cannot be diagnosed with conventional bronchoscopy, mediastinoscopy is performed to obtain histological samples. Although the diagnostic sensitivity of this procedures is >90% [4, 5], it is invasive and requires general anesthesia [5]. In this chapter, a newly developed bronchoscopic technique, endobronchial ultrasonography (EBUS)-guided transbronchial needle aspiration (EBUS-TBNA) for the definitive diagnosis of sarcoidosis is discussed.

### **2. EBUS-TBNA, a newly developed bronchoscopic technique**

An endobronchial ultrasound, recently developed in Japan [6, 7], is a bronchoscope equipped with a convex-type ultrasound probe at the tip of the scope to simultaneously

© 2013 Kitamura and Takiguchi; licensee InTech. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited. © 2013 The Author(s). Licensee InTech. This chapter is distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

visualize endobronchial images with optical-wavelength light and images of peribron‐ chial structures, such as lymph nodes and vessels, with ultrasound (Figure 1). By introduc‐ ing a specialized TBNA needle into the forceps channel, it is possible to obtain cytological and even histological samples [6, 7]. This technique was developed primarily as a novel minimally invasive diagnostic technique for lymph node staging of lung cancer [6, 8- 17]. As summarized in Table 1, initial research disclosed its high sensitivity and diagnostic yields for this purpose. This new technique has obviated the need for classical and invasive mediastinoscopy in many cases, and a current European guideline for lymph node staging in lung cancer primarily recommends EBUS-TBNA over mediastinoscopy [18]. Recent reports also indicate that EBUS-TBNA is a valuable diagnostic method for pulmonary sarcoidosis with hilar/mediastinal lymphadenopathy [19 - 32]. The presence of noncaseating epithelioid-cell granulomas in the lymph nodes obtained by EBUS-TBNA suggests the diagnosis of granulomatous disease including sarcoidosis.

**Author Year**

**TBNA**

**No. of**

**Table 1.** Recent studies for staging of lung cancer with EBUS-TBNA

**patients Study design Sensitivity**

Pathological Diagnosis with Endobronchial Ultrasonography – Guided Transbronchial Needle Aspiration (EBUS-TBNA)

Yasufuku[6] 2005 108 Prospective 94.1 100 Yasufuku[10] 2006 102 Prospective 92.3 100 Herth[11] 2006 502 Prospective 94 100 Vincent[12] 2008 146 Retrospective 99.1 100 Wallace[13] 2008 138 Prospective 69 100 Herth[14] 2008 97 Prospective 88.9 100 Ernst[15] 2008 66 Prospective 88.1 100 Petersen[16] 2009 157 Retrospective 85 100 Yasufuku[17] 2011 102 Prospective 81 100

**3. Technique to obtain histological and cytological materials with EBUS-**

EBUS-TBNA is performed under local anesthesia with mild sedation, which is compara‐ ble to conventional bronchoscopy [7 - 11]. Contrast medium-enhanced CT images are used to identify target lymph nodes. A convex-probe-equipped EBUS bronchoscope (CP-EBUS; for example, BF-UC260F-OL8; Olympus, Tokyo, Japan) supported by an ultrasound image processor (model EU-C2000; Olympus) and a dedicated 22- or 21-gauge aspiration needle (NA-201SX-4022/NA-201SX-4021; Olympus) are used (Figures 2, 3). Although 21 G and 22 G needles yield similar sensitivity in the diagnosis of malignant diseases, 22 G needles are more efficient than 21 G needles for obtaining materials from patients with sarcoidosis [33]. While the target lymph node is visualized with EBUS, a transbronchial puncture under real-time ultrasound guidance is performed with a needle equipped with an internal sheath (Figure 4). The internal sheath prevents clogging of the needle with bronchial epithelial cells. On confirming that the tip of the needle has penetrated the target lymph node, the internal sheath is removed, and rapid negative pressure is applied by aspirating with a 20 mL syringe several times. After the needle is moved back and forth inside the lymph node under real-time ultrasound guidance, it is retrieved and the internal sheath is used to expel the material aspirated in the needle (Figure 5). A histological core is first obtained in many cases; this material is placed on a small piece of filter paper for fixation in 10% buffered formalin. The internal sheath is then removed, and positive pressure is applied using an air-filled 20-mL syringe to expel the remaining material in the needle onto a glass slide, which is then smeared against another glass slide by using the squash preparation technique to yield cytological smears on 2 glass slides (Figure 6). Both histological cores and cytological specimens are obtained in many cases with this method. In our institu‐ tion, tentative on-site cytological diagnosis by a cytoscreener is available. One of the

**(%)**

S**pecificity (%)**

259

http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/55030

**Figure 1.** A bronchoscopic procedure with EBUS. The operator and assistants can view simultaneous real-time images of both endobronchus with natural light (right monitor) and peribronchial structures with ultrasonography (left monitor).

Pathological Diagnosis with Endobronchial Ultrasonography – Guided Transbronchial Needle Aspiration (EBUS-TBNA) http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/55030 259


**Table 1.** Recent studies for staging of lung cancer with EBUS-TBNA

visualize endobronchial images with optical-wavelength light and images of peribron‐ chial structures, such as lymph nodes and vessels, with ultrasound (Figure 1). By introduc‐ ing a specialized TBNA needle into the forceps channel, it is possible to obtain cytological and even histological samples [6, 7]. This technique was developed primarily as a novel minimally invasive diagnostic technique for lymph node staging of lung cancer [6, 8- 17]. As summarized in Table 1, initial research disclosed its high sensitivity and diagnostic yields for this purpose. This new technique has obviated the need for classical and invasive mediastinoscopy in many cases, and a current European guideline for lymph node staging in lung cancer primarily recommends EBUS-TBNA over mediastinoscopy [18]. Recent reports also indicate that EBUS-TBNA is a valuable diagnostic method for pulmonary sarcoidosis with hilar/mediastinal lymphadenopathy [19 - 32]. The presence of noncaseating epithelioid-cell granulomas in the lymph nodes obtained by EBUS-TBNA

**Figure 1.** A bronchoscopic procedure with EBUS. The operator and assistants can view simultaneous real-time images of both endobronchus with natural light (right monitor) and peribronchial structures with ultrasonography (left monitor).

suggests the diagnosis of granulomatous disease including sarcoidosis.

258 Sarcoidosis

### **3. Technique to obtain histological and cytological materials with EBUS-TBNA**

EBUS-TBNA is performed under local anesthesia with mild sedation, which is compara‐ ble to conventional bronchoscopy [7 - 11]. Contrast medium-enhanced CT images are used to identify target lymph nodes. A convex-probe-equipped EBUS bronchoscope (CP-EBUS; for example, BF-UC260F-OL8; Olympus, Tokyo, Japan) supported by an ultrasound image processor (model EU-C2000; Olympus) and a dedicated 22- or 21-gauge aspiration needle (NA-201SX-4022/NA-201SX-4021; Olympus) are used (Figures 2, 3). Although 21 G and 22 G needles yield similar sensitivity in the diagnosis of malignant diseases, 22 G needles are more efficient than 21 G needles for obtaining materials from patients with sarcoidosis [33]. While the target lymph node is visualized with EBUS, a transbronchial puncture under real-time ultrasound guidance is performed with a needle equipped with an internal sheath (Figure 4). The internal sheath prevents clogging of the needle with bronchial epithelial cells. On confirming that the tip of the needle has penetrated the target lymph node, the internal sheath is removed, and rapid negative pressure is applied by aspirating with a 20 mL syringe several times. After the needle is moved back and forth inside the lymph node under real-time ultrasound guidance, it is retrieved and the internal sheath is used to expel the material aspirated in the needle (Figure 5). A histological core is first obtained in many cases; this material is placed on a small piece of filter paper for fixation in 10% buffered formalin. The internal sheath is then removed, and positive pressure is applied using an air-filled 20-mL syringe to expel the remaining material in the needle onto a glass slide, which is then smeared against another glass slide by using the squash preparation technique to yield cytological smears on 2 glass slides (Figure 6). Both histological cores and cytological specimens are obtained in many cases with this method. In our institu‐ tion, tentative on-site cytological diagnosis by a cytoscreener is available. One of the cytological slides is placed in 95% ethanol for fixation and staining with the Papanico‐ laou technique. The other one is air-dried, stained with a Romanowsky-type stain (Diff-Quik®), and sent for on-site evaluation. The cytoscreener ensures that the specimen is of adequate quality. Tissue sampling is repeated until sufficient material is obtained. The aspirated materials can also be dispersed into sterile saline solution for microbiological examinations, including staining and culture for bacteria, fungi, and acid-fast bacilli. In addition, polymerase chain reaction examinations can be performed for acid-fast bacilli. Histological diagnoses are based on the results of hematoxylin and eosin (H-E) staining.

**Figure 3.** The control head of an endobronchial ultrasound is similar to that of a conventional bronchoscope except for a sophisticated needle aspiration kit that enables operators to control internal and outer sheaths separately.

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**Figure 4.** An ultrasound image showing an enlarged lymph node (hypoechoic area; arrowheads) and an aspiration needle (arrow) inserted into the lymph node. On ensuring that the tip of the needle is inside the target lymph node, negative pressure is applied and the needle is moved back and forth inside the lymph node to obtain material for

pathological examination.

**Figure 2.** The tip of the endobronchial ultrasound equipped with an aspiration needle (asterisk). The needle is pro‐ truded for demonstration.

Pathological Diagnosis with Endobronchial Ultrasonography – Guided Transbronchial Needle Aspiration (EBUS-TBNA) http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/55030 261

cytological slides is placed in 95% ethanol for fixation and staining with the Papanico‐ laou technique. The other one is air-dried, stained with a Romanowsky-type stain (Diff-Quik®), and sent for on-site evaluation. The cytoscreener ensures that the specimen is of adequate quality. Tissue sampling is repeated until sufficient material is obtained. The aspirated materials can also be dispersed into sterile saline solution for microbiological examinations, including staining and culture for bacteria, fungi, and acid-fast bacilli. In addition, polymerase chain reaction examinations can be performed for acid-fast bacilli. Histological diagnoses are based on the results of hematoxylin and eosin (H-E) staining.

**Figure 2.** The tip of the endobronchial ultrasound equipped with an aspiration needle (asterisk). The needle is pro‐

truded for demonstration.

260 Sarcoidosis

**Figure 3.** The control head of an endobronchial ultrasound is similar to that of a conventional bronchoscope except for a sophisticated needle aspiration kit that enables operators to control internal and outer sheaths separately.

**Figure 4.** An ultrasound image showing an enlarged lymph node (hypoechoic area; arrowheads) and an aspiration needle (arrow) inserted into the lymph node. On ensuring that the tip of the needle is inside the target lymph node, negative pressure is applied and the needle is moved back and forth inside the lymph node to obtain material for pathological examination.

BAL followed by TBLB with conventional bronchoscopy is performed before EBUS-TBNA

Pathological Diagnosis with Endobronchial Ultrasonography – Guided Transbronchial Needle Aspiration (EBUS-TBNA)

**4. Sensitivity and specificity of EBUS-TBNA in the diagnosis of sarcoidosis**

Table 2 summarizes the results of recent reports and shows a diagnostic sensitivity for sarcoidosis of EBUS-TBNA ranging from 56% to 94% [19 - 32]. Non-caseating epithelioid-cell granulomas on histological examination of EBUS-TBNA specimens have high sensitivity and specificity for sarcoidosis at stages 1 and 2. Nakajima et al. [22], Oki et al. [28], and Kitamura et al. [29] reported that the sensitivity of EBUS-TBNA for stage 1 and 2 sarcoidosis is much

> **Specificity (%)**

**Histology Cytology Histology & Cytology**

**Specificity (%)**

**Sensitivity (%)**

http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/55030

263

**Specificity (%)**

**Sensitivity (%)**

[22,28] when required.

**Author Year**


**cytological examination**

higher than that of TBLB from the lung parenchyma.

**Table 2.** Recent studies for diagnosis of sarcoidosis with EBUS-TBNA

**Study design**

**Sensitivity (%)**

Garwood[19] 2007 48 Prospective - - - - 85 - Oki[20] 2007 14 Prospective 57 - 65 - 78 - Wong[21] 2007 61 Prospective - - - - 92 - Nakajima[22] 2009 32 Retrospective 63 - 71 - 91 - Tremblay[23] 2009 24 Prospective - - - - 83 - Eckardt[24] 2010 43 Retrospective - - - - 77 - Tournoy[25] 2010 54 Prospective - - - - 56 - Navani[26] 2011 27 Prospective - - - - 85 - Plit[27] 2011 37 Retrospective - - - - 84 - Oki[28] 2012 54 Prospective - - - - 94 - Kitamura[29] 2012 72 Retrospective 72 97 65 94 88 92

**5. Diagnostic validity for sarcoidosis of epithelioid-cell clusters on**

however, the validity of the diagnostic criteria has not been defined.

Cytological evaluation has been reported in the diagnosis of sarcoidosis with conventional TBNA, trans-esophageal ultrasound-guided biopsy [34 - 40], and EBUS-TBNA [41,42];

**No. of patients**

**Figure 5.** Aspirated material inside the needle is expelled by inserting the inner sheath. Usually a histological core is obtained, and the material is collected on a filter paper for fixation in formalin solution.

**Figure 6.** After obtaining the histological core, the inner sheath is removed. An abrupt positive pressure is used to expel remaining material inside the needle for cytological samples, which are obtained on 2 glass slides by using the squash preparation technique.

BAL followed by TBLB with conventional bronchoscopy is performed before EBUS-TBNA [22,28] when required.

### **4. Sensitivity and specificity of EBUS-TBNA in the diagnosis of sarcoidosis**

Table 2 summarizes the results of recent reports and shows a diagnostic sensitivity for sarcoidosis of EBUS-TBNA ranging from 56% to 94% [19 - 32]. Non-caseating epithelioid-cell granulomas on histological examination of EBUS-TBNA specimens have high sensitivity and specificity for sarcoidosis at stages 1 and 2. Nakajima et al. [22], Oki et al. [28], and Kitamura et al. [29] reported that the sensitivity of EBUS-TBNA for stage 1 and 2 sarcoidosis is much higher than that of TBLB from the lung parenchyma.


**Table 2.** Recent studies for diagnosis of sarcoidosis with EBUS-TBNA

**Figure 5.** Aspirated material inside the needle is expelled by inserting the inner sheath. Usually a histological core is

**Figure 6.** After obtaining the histological core, the inner sheath is removed. An abrupt positive pressure is used to expel remaining material inside the needle for cytological samples, which are obtained on 2 glass slides by using the

squash preparation technique.

262 Sarcoidosis

obtained, and the material is collected on a filter paper for fixation in formalin solution.

### **5. Diagnostic validity for sarcoidosis of epithelioid-cell clusters on cytological examination**

Cytological evaluation has been reported in the diagnosis of sarcoidosis with conventional TBNA, trans-esophageal ultrasound-guided biopsy [34 - 40], and EBUS-TBNA [41,42]; however, the validity of the diagnostic criteria has not been defined.

Epithelioid-cell clusters suggesting the presence of granulomas are defined by variably-sized loose collections of non-pigmented epithelioid or spindle-cell histiocytes that are usually accompanied by lymphocytes [31]. Typical cytological findings are shown in Figures 7 to 10, together with their corresponding histological findings obtained from the same aspiration. The validity of cytological evaluation in the diagnosis of sarcoidosis, however, was not welldefined. To elucidate the diagnostic validity of epithelioid-cell clusters on cytological exami‐ nation, we performed a study in which cytological samples from 72 patients with sarcoidosis and 116 control patients with malignant lung diseases mainly of primary lung cancer (with lymphadenopathy eventually proven to be metastasis free) were evaluated independently by 2 cytoscreeners and a pathologist, all blinded to patient information. The results included excellent inter-observer variability and a high specificity of 94.0%, indicating validity of cytological diagnosis of sarcoidosis [29]. Our study also uncovered a very high rate (87.5% or 63/72) of pathological proof of epithelioid-cell granulomas when cytological and histological evaluations with EBUS-TBNA-obtained materials were combined. Validity of cytological diagnosis of sarcoidosis might be applicable to other organs.

> **Figure 8.** Histological findings of a histological core obtained from the same patient whose cytological findings are shown in Figure 7. Histological findings characteristic of a non-caseating epithelioid-cell granuloma are shown (H-E

> Pathological Diagnosis with Endobronchial Ultrasonography – Guided Transbronchial Needle Aspiration (EBUS-TBNA)

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265

**Figure 9.** Normal lymph node findings shown in a cytological specimen, with Diff-Quik staining (a and b) and Papani‐ colaou staining (c and d). They were obtained from the same lymph node in a control patient. The original magnifica‐

stain; original magnification of ×100 in a and ×200 in b).

tion were ×100 (a and c) and ×400 (b and d).

**Figure 7.** Typical epithelioid-cell clusters in a cytological specimen, with Diff-Quik staining (a and b) and Papanicolaou staining (c and d). They were obtained from the same lymph node in a patient with sarcoidosis. The original magnifi‐ cations were ×100 (a and c) and ×400 (b and d).

Pathological Diagnosis with Endobronchial Ultrasonography – Guided Transbronchial Needle Aspiration (EBUS-TBNA) http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/55030 265

Epithelioid-cell clusters suggesting the presence of granulomas are defined by variably-sized loose collections of non-pigmented epithelioid or spindle-cell histiocytes that are usually accompanied by lymphocytes [31]. Typical cytological findings are shown in Figures 7 to 10, together with their corresponding histological findings obtained from the same aspiration. The validity of cytological evaluation in the diagnosis of sarcoidosis, however, was not welldefined. To elucidate the diagnostic validity of epithelioid-cell clusters on cytological exami‐ nation, we performed a study in which cytological samples from 72 patients with sarcoidosis and 116 control patients with malignant lung diseases mainly of primary lung cancer (with lymphadenopathy eventually proven to be metastasis free) were evaluated independently by 2 cytoscreeners and a pathologist, all blinded to patient information. The results included excellent inter-observer variability and a high specificity of 94.0%, indicating validity of cytological diagnosis of sarcoidosis [29]. Our study also uncovered a very high rate (87.5% or 63/72) of pathological proof of epithelioid-cell granulomas when cytological and histological evaluations with EBUS-TBNA-obtained materials were combined. Validity of cytological

**Figure 7.** Typical epithelioid-cell clusters in a cytological specimen, with Diff-Quik staining (a and b) and Papanicolaou staining (c and d). They were obtained from the same lymph node in a patient with sarcoidosis. The original magnifi‐

cations were ×100 (a and c) and ×400 (b and d).

diagnosis of sarcoidosis might be applicable to other organs.

264 Sarcoidosis

**Figure 8.** Histological findings of a histological core obtained from the same patient whose cytological findings are shown in Figure 7. Histological findings characteristic of a non-caseating epithelioid-cell granuloma are shown (H-E stain; original magnification of ×100 in a and ×200 in b).

**Figure 9.** Normal lymph node findings shown in a cytological specimen, with Diff-Quik staining (a and b) and Papani‐ colaou staining (c and d). They were obtained from the same lymph node in a control patient. The original magnifica‐ tion were ×100 (a and c) and ×400 (b and d).

**7. Future directions**

might change the diagnostic practices in sarcoidosis.

and personalized care in the future.

Atsushi Kitamura1,2 and Yuichi Takiguchi1

(1999). , 160, 736-755.

\*Address all correspondence to: takiguchi@faculty.chiba-u.jp

**Author details**

**References**

As discussed in the above sections, EBUS-TBNA results in a very high rate (>80%) of patho‐ logical proof of sarcoidosis provided enlarged hilar/mediastinal lymph nodes are accessible. The technique has been reported to be very safe because target lymph nodes and surrounding vessels are easily visualized with ultrasound images. In contrast, the sensitivity of TBLB of pulmonary parenchymal lesions is reportedly much lower than that with EBUS-TBNA. In fact, it was 34.5% (or 20/58) in our study [29], where only 58 patients out of the 72 patients with sarcoidosis were evaluated with TBLB because of absent pulmonary lesions in the imaging studies and/or possible complications. TBLB is potentially invasive; consequently, the proce‐ dure may be complicated with massive bleeding or pneumothorax. These possible complica‐ tions may justify avoiding TBLB in the diagnosis of sarcoidosis when EBUS-TBNA is available. Excluding certain conditions where proof of pulmonary parenchymal lesions is required, prioritizing EBUS-TBNA over TBLB would be reasonable. Advances in this new technology

Pathological Diagnosis with Endobronchial Ultrasonography – Guided Transbronchial Needle Aspiration (EBUS-TBNA)

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267

In addition, easier access to involved lymph nodes with EBUS-TBNA may provide new opportunities to obtain biomarkers for elucidating pathogenesis of the disease. In fact, Nakajima et al. [48] and Sakairi et al. [49] were successful with this technique in detecting various gene mutations in patients with lung cancer. Similar advances with the same technique in the field of sarcoidosis and other granulomatous diseases would be realistic. We anticipate that sarcoidosis, an unpleasant refractory disease, will be conquered by applied investigation

1 Department of Medical Oncology, Graduate School of Medicine, Chiba University, Japan

[1] Statement on sarcoidosisJoint Statement of the American Thoracic Society (ATS), the European Respiratory Society (ERS) and the World Association of Sarcoidosis and Other Granulomatous Disorders (WASOG) adopted by the ATS Board of Directors and by the ERS Executive Committee, February 1999. Am J Respir Crit Care Med

2 Department of Respiratory Medicine, St. Luke's International Hospital, Japan

**Figure 10.** Histological findings of a histological core obtained from the same patient whose cytological findings are shown in Figure 9. Although the structure has partially disintegrated probably because of tissue damage inside the aspiration needle, normal lymph node architecture is observed without evidence of epithelioid-cell granuloma or ma‐ lignant cells (H-E stain; original magnification of ×100 in a and ×200 in b).

### **6. Epithelioid-cell granulomas in lymphadenopathy with lung cancer**

Non-caseating epithelioid-cell granulomas may be seen in draining lymph nodes in various malignant diseases. These relatively uncommon histological findings, which are not systemic sarcoidosis, have been termed sarcoid reactions [43]. Sarcoid reactions are also seen in lung malignancy with a reported incidence of 1.2–4.3% [44- 46]. This value was 6.0% in our study [29], that is, cytological evaluation of the EBUS-TBNA samples revealed epithelioid-cell clusters in lymph nodes from 7 patients out of the 116 patients with primary lung cancer whose lymphadenopathy was eventually proven to be metastasis free. Sarcoid reactions probably reflect an immune response to tumor antigens due to T-cell mediated immune responses [47]. The tumor antigens are thought to be carried by lymphatic vessels to the draining lymph nodes, causing sarcoid reactions in situ [43]. Although uncommon, it is very important that this is considered in the pathological diagnosis of sarcoidosis. There is no report on differentiating sarcoidosis from sarcoid reactions on the basis of histological and/or cytological findings. Clinical differentiation of sarcoid reaction from sarcoidosis, however, may not be difficult because of the presence of primary lesion and asymmetric distribution of the hilar/mediasti‐ num lymphadenopathy. Nevertheless, it should be stressed that sarcoid reaction potentially misleads N staging of the lung cancer.

### **7. Future directions**

As discussed in the above sections, EBUS-TBNA results in a very high rate (>80%) of patho‐ logical proof of sarcoidosis provided enlarged hilar/mediastinal lymph nodes are accessible. The technique has been reported to be very safe because target lymph nodes and surrounding vessels are easily visualized with ultrasound images. In contrast, the sensitivity of TBLB of pulmonary parenchymal lesions is reportedly much lower than that with EBUS-TBNA. In fact, it was 34.5% (or 20/58) in our study [29], where only 58 patients out of the 72 patients with sarcoidosis were evaluated with TBLB because of absent pulmonary lesions in the imaging studies and/or possible complications. TBLB is potentially invasive; consequently, the proce‐ dure may be complicated with massive bleeding or pneumothorax. These possible complica‐ tions may justify avoiding TBLB in the diagnosis of sarcoidosis when EBUS-TBNA is available. Excluding certain conditions where proof of pulmonary parenchymal lesions is required, prioritizing EBUS-TBNA over TBLB would be reasonable. Advances in this new technology might change the diagnostic practices in sarcoidosis.

In addition, easier access to involved lymph nodes with EBUS-TBNA may provide new opportunities to obtain biomarkers for elucidating pathogenesis of the disease. In fact, Nakajima et al. [48] and Sakairi et al. [49] were successful with this technique in detecting various gene mutations in patients with lung cancer. Similar advances with the same technique in the field of sarcoidosis and other granulomatous diseases would be realistic. We anticipate that sarcoidosis, an unpleasant refractory disease, will be conquered by applied investigation and personalized care in the future.

### **Author details**

**Figure 10.** Histological findings of a histological core obtained from the same patient whose cytological findings are shown in Figure 9. Although the structure has partially disintegrated probably because of tissue damage inside the aspiration needle, normal lymph node architecture is observed without evidence of epithelioid-cell granuloma or ma‐

**6. Epithelioid-cell granulomas in lymphadenopathy with lung cancer**

Non-caseating epithelioid-cell granulomas may be seen in draining lymph nodes in various malignant diseases. These relatively uncommon histological findings, which are not systemic sarcoidosis, have been termed sarcoid reactions [43]. Sarcoid reactions are also seen in lung malignancy with a reported incidence of 1.2–4.3% [44- 46]. This value was 6.0% in our study [29], that is, cytological evaluation of the EBUS-TBNA samples revealed epithelioid-cell clusters in lymph nodes from 7 patients out of the 116 patients with primary lung cancer whose lymphadenopathy was eventually proven to be metastasis free. Sarcoid reactions probably reflect an immune response to tumor antigens due to T-cell mediated immune responses [47]. The tumor antigens are thought to be carried by lymphatic vessels to the draining lymph nodes, causing sarcoid reactions in situ [43]. Although uncommon, it is very important that this is considered in the pathological diagnosis of sarcoidosis. There is no report on differentiating sarcoidosis from sarcoid reactions on the basis of histological and/or cytological findings. Clinical differentiation of sarcoid reaction from sarcoidosis, however, may not be difficult because of the presence of primary lesion and asymmetric distribution of the hilar/mediasti‐ num lymphadenopathy. Nevertheless, it should be stressed that sarcoid reaction potentially

lignant cells (H-E stain; original magnification of ×100 in a and ×200 in b).

266 Sarcoidosis

misleads N staging of the lung cancer.

Atsushi Kitamura1,2 and Yuichi Takiguchi1


### **References**

[1] Statement on sarcoidosisJoint Statement of the American Thoracic Society (ATS), the European Respiratory Society (ERS) and the World Association of Sarcoidosis and Other Granulomatous Disorders (WASOG) adopted by the ATS Board of Directors and by the ERS Executive Committee, February 1999. Am J Respir Crit Care Med (1999). , 160, 736-755.

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**Section 5**

**Treatment**

**Section 5**
