USING FLOW CYTOMETRY IN EBUS-TBNA SAMPLES FOR THE DIAGNOSIS OF LUNG CANCER: EFFECTIVENESS AND SAFETY

TYPE: Abstract Publication TOPIC: Lung Cancer PURPOSE: There is no evidence that suggests that the diagnosis of LC can be reached using immunophenotyping in a sample obtained with Endobronchial Ultrasound Guided Transbronchial Needle Aspiration (EBUS-TBNA).We aim to evaluate results of Flow cyotmetry (FC) in the diagnosis of lung cancer (LC) using samples obtained with EBUS-TBNA.To identify the complications of EBUS-TBNA for mediastinum tissue collection. METHODS: 147 patients underwent EBUS-TBNA due to suspicious lymphadenopathies or mediastinal masses.39 patients were diagnosed of LC without it being the suspected diagnosis.Each sample was reviewed by a haematologist using FC and an anatomopathologist who gave the final diagnosis. RESULTS: 39 patients had a positive identification for lung cancer using FC.46% were of "epithelial origin"; 55% of which resulted in Adenocarcinoma (AC), 11% small cell lung carcinoma (SCLC), 6% squamous, 28% other types of LC by histology. 31% were SCLC using FC and histology.All expressed CD56 in FC.10% resulted in “AC” using FC and histology.All expressed EpCAM in FC.Interestingly, 93% of all AC were EpCAM positive.There were no complications during or after the procedure. CONCLUSIONS: LC was not the primary diagnostic suspicion in our patients.FC could help reach a faster diagnosis in whom LC was not suspected.The marker CD56 could be the initial finding of SCLC.EpCAM could steer diagnosis to AC.EBUS-TBNA was a safe and cost-effective procedure. CLINICAL IMPLICATIONS: Using FC in the study of lymphadenopathies obtained from EBUS-TBNA could be the first step into the diagnosis of LC. More data regarding this topic is needed to ensure that FC could be established as a diagnostic tool for LC. DISCLOSURE: No significant relationships. KEYWORDS: EBUS, Flow cytometry, lung cancer