Application of endoscopic ultrasound probes for the diagnosis of peripheral lung tumors

Aim: the aim of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of thin ultrasonic probes in search and verification of peripheral lung tumors. In 2014, the Chelyabinsk oncologic dispensary, outpatient phase, bronchoscopy was performed 274 times using the ultrasonic probe of 20 MHz in order to find and verify peripheral tumors. Ultrasound imaging of tumors reached 189 (68.9 %) of the total number of the bronchoscopies with mini ultrasound probes. Biopsy was performed in 172 (62.7 %) patients. Histological verification was obtained in 128 (46 %) patients. Of these, in 94 (73.4 %) cases the tumor was verified at the first attempt, in 22 (17.1 %) cases - at the second attempt, and in 12 (9.5 %) cases - at the third attempt. The use of ultrasound probes as a supplement routine bronchoscopy for the purpose of ultrasound imaging of tumors and in order to obtain material for histological examination is a highly informative method in 46 % of cases, it allows to verify the process in outpatients.