Transoesophageal ultrasound‐guided bronchoscopic aspiration of a superior mediastinal tumour using the BF‐UC290F instrument

Abstract

A 46‐year‐old male with a superior mediastinal mass presented with a one‐month history of hoarseness and chest pain and was referred to our hospital. Although endobronchial, ultrasound‐guided, transbronchial needle aspiration (EBUS‐TBNA) was initially performed, we could not obtain an adequate specimen because of his severe cough and an inadequate EBUS view. During the same endoscopic session, we performed endoscopic, ultrasound‐guided, bronchoscopic fine‐needle aspiration (EUS‐B‐FNA) via a transoesophageal approach using the BF‐UC290F (Olympus, Tokyo, Japan), a third‐generation EBUS‐TBNA endoscope. The BF‐UC290F enabled smooth access through the oesophagus and a clear EBUS view of the mass, attributable, respectively, to the compact distal tip and the powerful angulation. Rapid on‐site cytology revealed that an adequate specimen had been obtained, and we terminated the procedure without inducing a severe cough. Histologically, the mass was a squamous cell carcinoma. EUS‐B‐FNA employing the BF‐UC290F was useful to diagnose the superior mediastinal mass.

Keywords

• BF‐UC290F
• endoscopic, ultrasound‐guided, bronchoscopic fine‐needle aspiration
• superior mediastinal tumour