Real-time prediction of mediastinal lymph node malignancy by endobronchial ultrasound.

Objective: To evaluate the utility of different ultrasonographic (US) features in differentiating benign and malignant lymph node (LN) by endobronchial ultrasound (EBUS) and validate a score for real-time clinical application.

Methods: 208 mediastinal LN acquired from 141 patients were analyzed. Six different US criteria were evaluated (short axis ≥10 mm, shape, margin, echogenicity, and central hilar structure [CHS], and presence of hyperechoic density) by two observers independently.