Abstract:Objective To investigate the clinical value of endobronchial ultrasound-guided transbronchial needle aspiration (EBUS-TBNA) combining immunohistochemisty (IHC) and molecular testing in lung cancer. Methods 55 patients with mediastinal, and/or hilar lymphadenopanthy, and/or mediastinal mass previously detected by CT or PET/CT scan and who underwent EBUS-TBNA from May 2013 and October 2015 was retrospectively reviewed. Additional immunohistological analysis was performed for establishing a reliable diagnosis when necessary. Some samples were tested for the EGFR and/or ALK mutations to provide suitable mutational genotyping for adenocarcinoma. Results Of the 55 patients, 37 primary lung cancer, 3 metastatic lung cancer, 1 soft tissue sarcoma, 1 lympoma, 1 metastatic lymph node adenocarcinoma, 4 tuberculosis and 1 reactive lymphadenitis was diagnosed by EBUS-TBNA, non-diagnosed in 7 cases. The sensitivity and diagnostic accuracy of EBUS-TBNA in the diagnosis of lung cancer were 92.5 % (37/40) and 94.5 % (52/55), respectively. 29 samples were further confirmed and obtained definite type by Immunohistochemistry (IHC), seventeen adenocarcinoma of lung, 6 lung squamous EBUS-TBNA carcinoma and 6 small cell lung cancer. 6 EBUS-TBNA samples from patients with adenocarcinoma of lung referred for EGFR testing were analyzed, 4 patients were found to have EGFR gene mutations, ALK-negative 1 cases. The procedure was uneventful without complications. Conclusions EBUS-TBNA was a safe and effective method with high sensitivity and specificity in the diagnosis of lung cancer. Especially it combining with IHC and molecular testing have important clinical value in diagnosis and guiding the treatment strategy.