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The role of endobronchial ultrasound in diagnosis, staging and treatment

Felix JF Herth and Ralf Eberhardt

Conventional imaging procedures proved to be insufficient for staging of lung cancer especially with respect to N-stage, infiltration of mediastinal structures and early lung cancer. As the endoscopist view is restricted, we developed a new method of endobronchial ultrasonography as adjunct to conventional bronchoscopy. The initial technical problems were solved by development of a balloon catheter for application of miniaturized 20 MHz probes. Endobronchial ultrasonography is a new technology that can be easily applied and is well tolerated. It improves the results of bronchoscopy in addition to conventional diagnostic procedures. Further developments will be made in future to improve the application of ultrasound in chest medicine.