Introduction:
Endobronchial ultrasound (EBUS) is a method that uses ultrasound and bronchoscopy to view the airway wall and adjacent structures. The clinical use and diagnostic profit of EBUS have been established in multiple studies. EBUS has been used in routine practice in various centers as it has high diagnostic value and minimal risk.
What Is Endobronchial Ultrasound?
Endobronchial ultrasound, also called endobronchial ultrasound-guided transbronchial needle aspiration (EBUS-TBNA), was first incorporated in medical gastroenterology for staging esophageal and gastric malignancies. Ultrasound use within the airways was developed in the early 1990s. These small ultrasound or mini probes belong to the first generation of radial probe EBUS (RP-EBUS). Initially, the use of RP-EBUS to guide transbronchial biopsies for the evaluation of lung nodules was published in 2002.
It is a test that can diagnose if:
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An abnormal-looking area is having cancer.
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The size of the cancer.
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Whether the cancer’s spread has occurred into other lung areas or out of the lung.
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This test uses a narrow, flexible tube to see the breathing tubes (airways) inside the lungs. The tube has an ultrasound probe. It incorporates high-frequency sound waves to create pictures of the lungs and structures outside the airway walls, like the lymph nodes.
Incidental lung nodules are discovered frequently in any clinical practice on CT. The risk of cancer forming in very small nodules (<5 mm) is minimal. However, clear suggestions still need to be evaluated with high changes in practice among radiologists. As a result, it is frequently seen that the practice of noting these nodules in the report and moving on leave it completely on the clinician to decide whether to follow these and at what point in time.
What Are the Uses of Endobronchial Ultrasound?
The use of EBUS is incorporated when doctors need to get a more detailed view of something they saw on an X-ray or CT (computed tomography) scan. They can use it to diagnose:
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Lung infections and abscesses.
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Cancer of the lungs or the space occurring between the lungs (mediastinum).
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Sarcoidosis, silicosis, or some other inflammatory lung conditions.
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Narrowing of airway (stenosis).
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Pulmonary nodules.
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It can also be used for the staging of some cancers.
What Is a Lung Nodule?
An incidental lung nodule is a kind of abnormally occurring growth in the lungs. One or several nodules might be present in the lungs. They can be seen in one lung or both. Most of the lung nodules are benign or non-cancerous in nature. They are rarely considered as a sign of lung cancer. These can be found by performing X-rays, computed tomography, etc. The growth of the nodule can be seen as a spot on the lung, coin lesion, or shadow by the doctor. These nodules are seen frequently amongst many individuals. Frequently, they are captured in around half of the patients who undergo lung imaging.
What Are the Symptoms of Lung Nodules?
Small lung nodules hardly show any symptoms. If the growth presses against the airway, one might experience a cough, wheeze, or struggle while breathing. Also, rarely, one could experience signs that might indicate early-stage lung cancer (cancer that has not spread outside the lung). One should consult the healthcare provider if they experience lung nodules that start to develop:
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Chest pain.
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Chronic cough or coughing up blood.
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Fatigue.
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Hoarseness.
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Loss of appetite and unexplained weight loss.
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Recurring respiratory infections like bronchitis or pneumonia.
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Shortness of breath (dyspnea) or wheezing.
What Are the Use of Endobronchial Ultrasound to Diagnose an Incidental Lung Nodule?
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Ultrasound mainly identifies small, deep lesions in the lung or mediastinum and stage lung lesions as per the results received while doing laparoscopic procedures. Failure to diagnose a nodule might need a conversion to thoracotomy. It ranged from 0.7 to 7.5 percent from the earlier one.
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It can be incorporated for central occurring lesions as well as peripheral lung nodules. Lesions identified with the help of radial ultrasound can cause distortion of the airway, and the tumor might develop through the bronchial walls reaching up to the submucosa.
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Many people notice they have a lung nodule after undergoing an imaging test in preparation for a test or for other reasons. The results are mostly surprising for them.
If an imaging test reveals a lung nodule, doctors might recommend active surveillance. In six to 12 months, one should get one more CT scan done. Nodules that remain of the same size during a two-year surveillance period are not likely to be cancerous. One might be able to stop getting CT scans.
Conclusion:
Endobronchial ultrasound (EBUS) is a diagnostic method that uses ultrasound and bronchoscopy to view the airway wall and adjacent structures. An incidental lung nodule is a kind of abnormally occurring growth in the lungs. One might experience coughing, sneezing, and difficulty breathing in the later stages. It can be recognized with the help of EBUS. This technique makes use of both ultrasound and CT.
