Endobronchial Ultrasound-guided Sampling of Centrally Located Intrapulmonary Tumors Provides Suitable Material for Diagnostic and Molecular Testing.

Background: Curvilinear endobronchial ultrasound transbronchial needle aspiration (EBUS-TBNA) is a key diagnostic and staging procedure for patients with suspected lung cancer. However, sampling centrally located intrapulmonary tumors is feasible but less well established.

Methods: We retrospectively evaluated the diagnostic utility of EBUS-TBNA in patients who underwent sampling of centrally located intrapulmonary tumors.

Setting up a Pleural Disease Service.

Pleural disease incidence is continuing to rise internationally and management is becoming increasingly complex. There are now many more options for patients, with access to thoracic ultrasound, image-guided biopsies, indwelling pleural catheters, and local-anesthetic pleuroscopy (thoracoscopy). Safety reports have also highlighted the need for specialist operator knowledge and skill.

Focused Neck Ultrasound and Lymph Node Sampling by Respiratory Physicians in Suspected Lung Cancer.

Background: Malignant cervical lymphadenopathy in the setting of lung cancer represents N3 disease, and neck ultrasound (NUS) with sampling is described in the Royal College of Radiologists ultrasound training curriculum for the non-radiologists. This study reviews the incorporation of NUS +/- biopsy in the routine practice of a lung cancer fast-track clinic in the UK.

Methods: We retrospectively assessed 29 months of activity of a lung cancer fast-track clinic.

To drain or not to drain? Abscess or empyema?

We present a case posing the clinical dilemma of differentiating a large peripheral lung abscess from an empyema, discussing the imaging and management and the clinical issues posed.