[A case of acute mediastinitis after endobronchial needle aspiration].

BACKGROUND

Endobronchial ultrasound-guided transbronchial needle aspiration (EBUS-TBNA) has become widespread, but reports of complications are rare.

CASE

An enlarged mediastinal lymph node (4R) was detected in a 67-year-old man 33 months after surgery for rectal cancer, and we performed EBUS-TBNA to confirm the diagnosis. He was then admitted to hospital 13 days after the procedure, with cough, a swollen mediastinal fatty area around the 4R lymph node, and elevated WBC and CRP levels. After a diagnosis of acute mediastinitis was confirmed we gave him antibiotics, which improved his symptoms, the mediastinal fatty area and his WBC and CRP levels.

CONCLUSION

We have to be aware of the possibility of acute mediastinitis after EBUS-TBNA of necrotic lymph nodes.