Objective To evaluate the yield of conventional transbronchial needle aspiration (C-TBNA) in the diagnosis of patients with central airway peripheral lesions. Methods This was a retrospective study, 77 patients with central airway peripheral lesions were enrolled from January 2011 to March 2017. Specimens were smeared and/ or embedded. Results The positive diagnostic value for malignant lesions were 92.86% (52/56), and 42.86%(9/21) for benign lesions. The average value was 79.22% (61/77). Conclusions C-TBNA had high positive rate of diagnosis and less complications for cent ral airway peripheral lesions.