Endoscopic ultrasound-guided biopsies for mediastinal lesions and lymph node diagnosis and staging.

Objectives: To disseminate transesophageal ultrasound-guided fine needle aspiration (EUS-FNA) as an alternative to investigate mediastinal tumoral lesions because it is an underused modality that has been available in Brazil for more than 15 years.

Methods: Descriptive analysis of a single endoscopy service's experience since 1997 in the accomplishment of EUSFNA for mediastinal staging of previously known malignancies (Group 1) or diagnostic definition of suspect lymph nodes and masses (Group 2).

Results: EUS-FNA was performed in 51 patients between 26 and 87 years of age.