[Differential diagnosis of malignant and benign peripheral pulmonary lesions based on two characteristic echo features of endobronchial ultrasonography].

OBJECTIVE

To assess the feasibility of endobronchial ultrasonography (EBUS) in the differential diagnosis of malignant and benign lesions based on the two characteristic echo features of malignancy.

METHODS

EBUS images from 102 patients undergoing bronchoscopy for peripheral lung lesions were analyzed. The sensitivity and specificity were determined for each echo feature, namely the halo sign and low-level echoes that indicated malignancy, or their combination in diagnosing malignant and benign lesions.

RESULTS

Low-level echoes showed a sensitivity of 89.46% and a specificity of 83% in the diagnosis of malignancy, both higher than those of the halo sign (69.51% and 65%, respectively). The presence of either of the two echo features had a diagnostic sensitivity of 94.6% for malignant lesions, and the coexistence of the two features had a specificity of 93% for a diagnosis of malignant lesions.

CONCLUSION

EBUS is a useful adjunctive modality for lung cancer diagnosis, especially in cases where peripheral lung lesions are invisible in conventional bronchoscopy.