Ko Pen Wang

Transbronchial needle aspiration for diagnosis of lung cancer.

Thirty-two consecutive patients with mediastinal lesions suggestive of bronchogenic carcinoma underwent transbronchial needle aspiration. Eighteen of 20 patients (90 percent) with proved bronchogenic carcinoma had malignant cytology specimens or tissue fragments. Of 12 patients with normal cytology specimens, six were subsequently proved to have nonneoplastic disease. Transbronchial needle aspiration appears to offer a sensitive and specific alternative to more invasive surgical techniques used in the diagnosis of malignancies with mediastinal involvement.

Typical and atypical CT manifestations of pulmonary sarcoidosis.

Chest CT of 36 patients with proven sarcoidosis were reviewed retrospectively. In all cases CT was obtained in an attempt to answer a diagnostic dilemma, either a patient with abnormal chest radiography and no clinical diagnosis or a patient with a history of known sarcoidosis and an atypical presentation on chest radiography. Computed tomography was superior to chest radiography in detecting and defining the presence of adenopathy. In addition, CT was more accurate in detecting the presence and extent of infiltrates. Secondary findings in sarcoidosis including pleural effusions, bullous disease, bronchiectasis, cavitation with and without mycetoma, and fibrosing mediastinitis were detected using CT. Using the information obtained from CT, we were able to arrive at the correct diagnosis in the majority of cases and to decide which modality would be most useful to secure tissue confirmation (bronchoscopy, transtracheal biopsy, or percutaneous needle biopsy of a solitary mass).

Flexible Transbronchial Needle Aspiration for the Diagnosis of Sarcoidosis

To determine the value of transbronchial needle aspiration biopsy in the diagnosis of sarcoidosis, we reviewed a 1-year experience of consecutive patients with sarcoidosis presenting with hilar and/or paratracheal adenopathy. The sensitivity of transbronchial needle aspiration biopsy in obtaining specimens of noncaseating granulomas was 90%. This yield exceeds that of most published reports of transbronchial lung biopsy and bronchial mucosal biopsy and suggests that transbronchial needle aspiration biopsy may be a valuable diagnostic tool in the evaluation of these forms of sarcoidosis.

Transbronchial needle aspiration.

To determine the value of transbronchial needle aspiration biopsy in the diagnosis of sarcoidosis, we reviewed a one-year experience of consecutive patients with sarcoidosis presenting with hilar and/or paratracheal adenopathy. The sensitivity of transbronchial needle aspiration biopsy in obtaining noncaseating granulomas was 90%. This yield exceeds that of most published reports of transbronchial lung biopsy and bronchial mucosal biopsy and suggests that transbronchial needle aspiration biopsy may be a valuable diagnostic tool in the evaluation of these forms of sarcoidosis.

Intrabronchial lesion on computed tomography secondary to blood clot

A case of a blood clot simulating an intrabronchial neoplasm on computed tomography is presented. Although an intrabronchial lesion in a patient with hemoptysis is usually a malignancy, other etiologies must be considered. Computed tomography is an excellent modality for detecting and evaluating intrabronchial pathology but bronchoscopy is necessary for tissue diagnosis.

A new controllable suction catheter for blind cannulation of the main stem bronchi.

A new controllable suction catheter is described which was used for blind cannulation of the main stem bronchi. Cannulation of the right main stem bronchus was successful in 24 of 25 attempts (96%). Cannulation of the left main stem bronchus was successful in 22 of 25 attempts (88%). The use of a controllable tip suction catheter increases the rate of successful cannulation of the left main stem bronchus compared to previous reports in the literature.