Endoscopic ultrasound guided biopsy of a mediastinal mass

Endoscopic ultrasound [EUS] now has an established role in the diagnosis, staging and management of cancers of the oesophagus, stomach, pancreato-biliary system and rectum. Recently, a role for EUS in the staging of lung cancers has been proposed. Linear EUS allows fine needle aspiration [FNA], core biopsies and therapeutic manoeuvres such as coeliac plexus block to be performed. We present here the first reported EUS-guided biopsy from Pakistan. A patient with probable bronchogenic carcinoma was referred for assessment of operability. A thoracic CT scan showed subcarinal and aorto-pulmonary recess lymphadenopathy. An EUS-guided FNA was performed, confirming metastatic non-small cell lung cancer and rendering the patient inoperable