Effect of Preparation Technique on Endobronchial Ultrasound-Guided Transbronchial Needle Aspiration Sample Adequacy: 3 Years of Experience from a Single Center

Abstract

Objective: Endobronchial ultrasound-guided transbronchial needle aspiration (EBUS-TBNA) is increasingly used to sample mediastinal lymphnodes and lesions. However, the methodological details of an optimal preparation technique for aspirated material have not yet been clearlydetermined. This study was an evaluation of the effect of 2 preparation techniques on the adequacy of aspirated specimens.Material and Method: A retrospective analysis was performed of EBUS-TBNA samples obtained at the institution over a total of 36 months. Twoperiods were examined. Almost all of the aspirated material was smeared onto slides and fixed with 95% alcohol in the first period of the study.Subsequently, to improve diagnostic ability, a pair of slides was prepared from each needle pass: the first was air-dried, and the second was fixedin 95% alcohol. The remainder of the aspirate was kept for cell block analysis.Results: In total, 462 samples were obtained from 260 patients. The overall sampling adequacy was 74% in the first and 81.1% in the secondperiod (p