Biopsy needles for mediastinal lymph node sampling by endosonography: current knowledge and future perspectives.
Sara Colella, Simone Scarlata, Martina Bonifazi, Claudia Ravaglia, Therese Maria Henriette Naur, Riccardo Pela, Paul Frost Clementsen, Stefano Gasparini, Venerino Poletti
Author Information
Sara Colella: Pulmonary Unit, "C. & G. Mazzoni" Hospital, Ascoli Piceno, Italy.
Simone Scarlata: Geriatrics, Department of Respiratory Pathophysiology and Thoracic Endoscopy, Campus Bio Medico University and Teaching Hospital, Rome, Italy.
Martina Bonifazi: Pulmonary Diseases Unit, Department of Internal Medicine, Azienda Ospedali Riuniti, Ancona, Italy.
Claudia Ravaglia: Pulmonology Unit, Department of Thoracic Diseases, G B Morgagni L Pierantoni Hospital, Forli, Italy.
Therese Maria Henriette Naur: Department of Internal Medicine, Naestved Hospital, 4700 Naestved, Denmark.
Riccardo Pela: Pulmonary Unit, "C. & G. Mazzoni" Hospital, Ascoli Piceno, Italy.
Paul Frost Clementsen: Department of Internal Medicine, Zealand University Hospital, Roskilde, Denmark.
Stefano Gasparini: Pulmonary Diseases Unit, Department of Internal Medicine, Azienda Ospedali Riuniti, Ancona, Italy.
Venerino Poletti: Pulmonology Unit, Department of Thoracic Diseases, G B Morgagni L Pierantoni Hospital, Forli, Italy.
Due to the increasing role of endosonography [endobronchial ultrasound-guided transbronchial needle aspiration (EBUS-TBNA) and esophageal ultrasound-guided fine needle aspiration (EUS-FNA)] in the diagnosis of several lung diseases, the knowledge of technical aspects is mandatory to optimize the success of the procedure. Among those technicalities related to the procedure, the choice of a needle over another one-either in terms of dimension and type-may have a role in the diagnostic process, especially in some diseases such as lymphoproliferative disorders. In this review, we analyze the current knowledge about the biopsy needle for endosonography, providing also some hints for the future.
