Utility of the Wang 18-Gauge Transbronchial Histology Needle in the Staging of Bronchogenic Carcinoma

Use of the Wang 18-gauge histology needle in TBNA was employed as a staging procedure in 29 patients with bronchogenic carcinoma and mediastinal adenopathy demonstrated on chest CT. Twenty patients had malignant aspirates; 12 had both histologic and cytologic specimens demonstrating malignancy; six patients had malignant histologic specimens; two had cancerous cytologic specimens as their only evidence of mediastinal disease. Of the nine negative aspirates, four were true negative at surgery. Five patients had false-negative aspirates. Overall sensitivity of the Wang 18-gauge histology needle in the mediastinal staging of patients with bronchogenic carcinoma was 80 percent. When patients with small cell carcinoma were excluded, sensitivity was 82 percent. The enhanced yield of the 18-gauge histology needle warrants its use in mediastinal staging of bronchogenic carcinoma. We conclude that all patients with bronchogenic carcinoma and mediastinal adenopathy demonstrated on chest CT accessible via TBNA should undergo histology needle aspiration as an initial staging procedure. (Chest 1989; 96:272–74)