[Evaluation of transbronchial needle aspiration in the diagnosis of bronchogenic carcinoma].

Transbronchial Needle Aspiration (TBNA), utilizing the flexible fibrobronchoscope, was one of the diagnostic procedures administered to the 148 cases examined. By means of the combination of transbronchial biopsy with brushing, 110 of those 148 patients were determined to have lung cancer. Thus, the diagnostic yields of TBNA, biopsy and brushing were 70.9% (78/110) 69.09% (76/110) and 65.45% (72/110) respectively. TBNA combined with the forceps biopsy increased the diagnostic yields to 91.81% (101/110), and combined with forceps and brushing increased the diagnostic yields to 93.63% (103/110). Additionally, 38 among 148 cases with negative results in TBNA were finally proven not to have bronchogenic carcinoma. No false positive was detected. There were no serious complications in this series. Our study demonstrates that TBNA is a relatively simple, safe and effective technique in diagnosing patients suspected with lung cancer; it can be used in combination with biopsy of forceps and brushing.