Mediclinic Panoroma, Suite H08, Rothschild Boulevard, Panoroma, Parow, Cape Town, 7500
TBNA is a minimally invasive diagnostic procedure which is often used to diagnose and stage lung cancer or atypical infections such as tuberculosis. TBNA is done to obtain tissue samples from the lungs and surrounding structures. It involves the insertion of a fine needle through the bronchoscope into the lung tissue or adjacent lymph nodes to extract cells for analysis. The procedure is done under general anaesthetic but does not require overnight admission.
TBNA is recommended when there is suspicion of lung cancer, lymphoma, sarcoidosis, tuberculosis, or other diseases affecting the lungs or mediastinum (the area between the lungs). It is particularly useful when other diagnostic methods, such as imaging or bronchoscopy with biopsy, are inconclusive or when obtaining tissue samples from deeper lung lesions or lymph nodes is necessary for accurate diagnosis.
Before the procedure, patients may receive sedation or anaesthesia to ensure comfort. It's common to fast for a few hours beforehand, and any blood-thinning medications may need to be temporarily stopped to reduce the risk of bleeding.
During the procedure, the patient is typically positioned sitting or lying down. A bronchoscope, a thin, flexible tube with a light and camera at its tip, is passed through the mouth or nose and into the airways. Once the bronchoscope reaches the target area within the lungs or mediastinum, a needle is passed through a flexible catheter, with the use of a bronchoscope, into the lesion.
Using the fine needle, the pulmonologist will aspirate (withdraw) a small tissue sample or cells from the target area. Multiple samples may be taken from different locations to increase the diagnostic yield.
This is done under ultrasound guidance (located at the tip of the bronchoscope), making this a safe and efficient method of biopsy. The aspiration of cells, then evaluated by an on-site pathologist, provides a minimally invasive diagnostic technique. The alternative would be a surgical procedure and an extended hospital admission.
Patients may experience some discomfort during TBNA, but it is usually well-tolerated. Sedation or anaesthesia may be provided to ensure comfort during the procedure.
While complications are rare, potential risks of TBNA include bleeding, infection, or pneumothorax (collapsed lung). Your pulmonologist will discuss these risks with you before the procedure.
TBNA typically takes about 30 minutes to an hour to complete, although the exact duration may vary depending on the complexity of the case and the number of samples needed.
Mediclinic Panoroma, Suite H08, Rothschild Boulevard, Panoroma, Parow, Cape Town, 7500
