Diagnostic yield and safety of EUS-FNA biopsy in sub-aortic and para-aortic lymph node stations with the trans-aortic approach: a case series and literature review

Figures & data

Figure 1. The diagnostic protocol of our study. It has to be noted that one patient was lost in follow-up.

Figure 2. Lymph nodes in the aorto-pulmonary window: (a) enlarged and (b) positive to contrast CT scan, and (c and d) normal appearance.

Table 1. Baseline characteristics of the 11 patients.

No.	Age (years)	Sex	Needle (G)	Lung lesion location (cm)	Suspected lymph nodes other than 5 and 6	Lymph node 5 or 6 sampled	Long axis (mm)	Short axis (mm)	Diagnosis	Confirmatory test
1	45	M	22	LUL (10 cm)	11R	6	28	22	Adenocarcinoma	–
2	63	F	22	LUL (3 cm)	10L	6	37	21	Inadequate	TBB (adenocarcinoma)
3	69	M	22	RUL	4L, 6	5	–	–	Squamocellular carcinoma	–
4	53	F	21	Bilateral lower lobes	7,4	6	–	–	Negative	X-hystiocitosis
5	73	F	22	RUL	4L, 7, 10R, 10L	6	17	–	Negative	Lost
6	67	F	22	LUL (4 cm)	No	6	23	22	Squamocellular carcinoma	–
7	60	F	21	RUL (4 cm)	4L, 7	5,6	–	–	Negative	Mediastinoscopy: negative
8	67	M	22	RUL, LUL	10L	5	–	–	Adenocarcinoma	–
9	54	M	22	LUL (5 cm)	10L	6	–	–	Negative	TBB (small-cell lung cancer)
10	40	M	22	LLL (2 cm)	5, 10L	6	20	20	Inadequate	Mediastinoscopy: negative
11	58	F	22	LUL (2,5 cm)	10L	6	39	21	Negative	Percutaneous lung biopsy: adenocarcinoma

LUL: left upper lobe; RLL: right lower lobe; LLL: left lower lobe; TBB: transbronchial biopsy.