ABSTRACT
Introdution: As the practice of TBNA becomes more widelyaccepted, it has also revived a longstanding question on theoptimum size of needle and whether larger needle with corebiopsy is of any additional benefit. In routine practice 19Gneedle is rarely used even in large nodes as it is perceivedto be technically difficult and likely to give a poor yield ofrepresentative tissue. We report our experience with yield andsafety using 19G needle for Conventional TBNA.Material and methods: Eighteen patients with largemediastinal nodes (short axis > 25 mm) underwent 19GConventional TBNA and station 4R and/or stations 7 werepunctured respectively.Results: Out of Eighteen patients, core biopsy material wasinadequate or unrepresentative in 14 / 18 cases and cytologymaterial was unrepresentative in 2 patients. A diagnosiswas reached in 16 of 18 patients by smear cytology and in14 cases by histology. Out of eighteen patients, 12 patientshad Granulomatous etiology, 2 had poorly differentiatedadenocarcinoma, 1 had Malignant Round Cell Tumor, and onepatient had reactive lymphadenitis.Conclusion: The 19G TBNA procedure is effective and safe,and can be a cost-saving alternative to surgical mediastinalexploration. It should be performed after careful case selectionduring initial diagnostic bronchoscopy and familiarizationwith the technique should not be neglected in trainingprogrammes and workshops.