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Endobronchial Ultrasound Bronchoscopy (EBUS)

Endobronchial ultrasound (EBUS) is a minimally invasive but highly effective procedure used to diagnose lung cancer, infections, and other diseases causing enlarged lymph nodes in the chest. UC San Diego Health was one of the first centers on the West Coast to offer EBUS and remains a regional leader in volume and overall experience.

Why is it used?

EBUS allows physicians to perform a technique known as transbronchial needle aspiration (TBNA) to obtain tissue or fluid samples from the lungs and surrounding lymph nodes without conventional surgery. The samples can be used for diagnosing and staging lung cancer, detecting infections, and identifying inflammatory diseases that affect the lungs, such as sarcoidosis or other cancers like lymphoma.

What makes EBUS different?

Calcified Central Lymph Node

During the conventional diagnostic procedure, surgery known as mediastinoscopy is performed to provide access to the chest. A small incision is made in the neck just above the breastbone or next to the breastbone. Next, a thin scope, called a mediastinoscope, is inserted through the opening to provide access to the lungs and surrounding lymph nodes. Tissue or fluid is then collected via biopsy.

During an endobronchial ultrasound:

  • No incisions are necessary

Benefits of EBUS

Peripheral Lesion
  • It provides real-time imaging of the surface of the airways, blood vessels, lungs, and lymph nodes
  • The improved images allow the physician to easily view difficult-to-reach areas and to access more, and smaller, lymph nodes for biopsy with the aspiration needle than through conventional mediatinoscopy
  • The accuracy and speed of the EBUS procedure lends itself to rapid onsite pathologic evaluation Pathologists in the operating room can process and examine biopsy samples as they are obtained and can request additional samples to be taken immediately if needed
  • EBUS is performed under moderate sedation or general anesthesia
  • Patients recover quickly and can usually go home the same day


Appointments & Referrals

NOTE: All referrals will still have the option of continuing treatment with their primary care physicians after the EBUS procedure.

Interventional Pulmonology Location


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