Table 3

Diagnostic yield of different sampling techniques


Biopsy (n = 201)
TBNA (n = 191)
Brushing (n = 187)
SVL (n = 72)
Aspiration (n = 356)
All (n = 363)

Overall diagnostic yield
122/201 (60.7)
78/191 (40.8)
43/187 (23.0)
5/72 (6.9)
29/356 (8.1)
161/363 (44.4)







Endobronchial visibility
**
**
**

**
**
Non visible lesion
9/36 (25.0)
4/21 (19.0)
13/68 (16.0)
3/46 (6.5)
5/130 (3.8)
22/132 (16.7)
Constriction/compression
22/48 (45.8)
17/69 (24.6)
5/49 (10.2)
1/11 (9.1)
2/88 (2.3)
31/90 (34.4)
Visible lesion
91/117 (77.8)
57/101 (56.4)
25/57 (43.9)
1/15 (6.7)
22/138 (15.9)
108/141 (76.6)







Tumor size
*




**
<= 2 cm
3/13 (23.1)
4/16 (25.0)
2/19 (10.5)
0/13 (0.0)
2/41 (4.9)
7/41 (17.1)
> 2 cm and <= 3 cm
15/24 (62.5)
6/18 (25.0)
4/35 (11.4)
0/19 (0.0)
6/59 (10.2)
20/62 (32.3)
> 3 cm and <= 4 cm
19/35 (54.3)
12/24 (50.0)
8/31 (25.8)
1/13 (7.7)
4/51 (7.8)
25/53 (47.2)
> 4 cm
85/129 (65.9)
56/127 (44.1)
29/102 (28.4)
4/27 (14.8)
17/205 (8.3)
109/207 (52.7)







Distance to carina
*

*


*
<= 5 cm
59/86 (68.6)
40/93 (43.0)
23/68 (33.8)
0/12 (0.0)
13/142 (9.2)
78/144 (54.2)
> 5 cm
44/88 (50.0)
26/74 (35.1)
17/102 (16.7)
3/52 (5.8)
12/165 (6.8)
62/179 (34.6)
Indeterminate
19/27 (70.4)
12/24 (50.0)
3/17 (17.6)
2/8 (25.0)
4/37 (10.8)
21/40 (52.5)







Side






Left
49/80 (61.3)
26/75 (34.7)
20/80 (25.0)
4/27 (14.8)
14/147 (9.5)
62/151 (41.1)
Right
68/115 (59.1)
46/106 (43.4)
22/103 (21.4)
1/42 (2.4)
14/195 (7.2)
92/198 (46.5)
Indeterminate
5/6 (83.3)
6/10 (60.0)
1/4 (25.0)
0/3 (0.0)
1/14 (7.1)
7/14 (50.0)







Lobe






Upper lobe without lingula
47/92 (51.1)
29/91 (31.9)
20/92 (21.7)
3/27 (11.1)
15/162 (9.3)
68/164 (41.5)
Middle lobe/lingula
8/13 (61.5)
6/14 (42.9)
6/18 (33.3)
0/9 (0.0)
0/27 (0.0)
11/29 (37.9)
Lower lobe
50/74 (67.6)
29/58 (50.0)
13/60 (21.7)
2/30 (6.7)
11/124 (8.9)
61/127 (48.0)
Mediastinum
8/11 (72.7)
7/18 (38.9)
2/13 (15.4)
0/5 (0.0)
0/30 (0.0)
12/30 (40.0)
Indeterminate
9/11 (81.8)
7/10 (70)
2/4 (50.0)
0/1 (0.0)
3/13 (23.1)
9/13 (69.2)

*p < 0.05. **p < 0.001

Data are presented as number of positive samples/all samples (%). Statistical analysis: χ2.

TBNA = Transbronchial needle aspiration. SVL = Small volume lavage.

Roth et al. BMC Pulmonary Medicine 2008 8:2   doi:10.1186/1471-2466-8-2