Accuracy of endobronchial ultrasound-guided transbronchial needle aspiration in HIV-infected patients with thoracic lymphadenopathy in a tuberculosis low-burden area

Sci Rep. 2020 Oct 1;10(1):16250. doi: 10.1038/s41598-020-73153-6.

Abstract

Endobronchial ultrasound-guided transbronchial needle aspiration (EBUS-TBNA) is an innovative technique to explore hilar and mediastinal lymphadenopathy. We aimed to assess its diagnostic accuracy in HIV-infected patients in a tuberculosis low-burden area. A retrospective review was performed of all HIV-infected patients with thoracic lymphadenopathy referred for EBUS-TBNA between January 2012 and January 2019 in 3 Northern French Hospitals. A total of 15 patients was included during the study period. Our patients were predominantly male (80%), with a mean age of 50 ± 11 years. Six patients (43%) had a CD4 cells count of less than 200/mm3. Eleven patients (73%) were receiving antiretroviral therapy, and 7 (47%) reached undetectable viral load. Adequate lymphnode sampling was accomplished in all patients. No serious complications were reported. EBUS-TBNA led to a definitive diagnosis in 12 out of 15 patients (80%). It identified 4 neoplasia, 3 atypical mycobacterial diseases, 2 tuberculosis, 1 Castleman disease, 1 sarcoidosis, and 1 professional dustiness. In 3 cases, sampling revealed normal lymphoid tissue. Active surveillance confirmed the suspected diagnosis of HIV adenitis with regression of lymphadenopathy on antiretroviral therapy in 2 cases. In one case of negative sampling, thoracoscopy led to the diagnosis of tuberculosis. In our cohort, accuracy of EBUS-TBNA was 92%. EBUS-TBNA appeared to be a safe and accurate tool in the investigation of mediastinal lymphadenopathy in HIV-infected patients in settings of tuberculosis low-prevalence. It can avoid more invasive procedures such as mediastinoscopy.

MeSH terms

  • Biopsy, Needle / methods*
  • Female
  • France / epidemiology
  • HIV Infections / complications*
  • HIV Infections / pathology
  • Humans
  • Lymphadenopathy / diagnosis
  • Lymphadenopathy / pathology*
  • Male
  • Mediastinum / pathology
  • Middle Aged
  • Reproducibility of Results
  • Retrospective Studies
  • Tuberculosis, Pulmonary / diagnosis*
  • Tuberculosis, Pulmonary / epidemiology
  • Tuberculosis, Pulmonary / pathology
  • Ultrasonography, Interventional
  • Viral Load