Endobronchial ultrasound increases the diagnostic yields of polymerase chain reaction and smear for pulmonary tuberculosis

To link to full-text access for this article, visit this link: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jtcvs.2010.02.019 Byline: Shu-Min Lin, Yung-Lun Ni, Chih-Hsia Kuo, Ting-Yu Lin, Tsai-Yu Wang, Fu-Tsai Chung, Han-Pin Kuo Abbreviations: AFB, acid-fast bacillus; AMTD, Amplified Mycobacterium Tuberculosis Direct; BAL, bronchoalveolar lavage; BALF, bronchoalveolar lavage fluid; CI, confidence intervals; CT, computed tomography; EBUS, endobronchial ultrasonography; NAATs, nucleic acid amplification tests; OR, odds ratios; PCR, polymerase chain reaction; TB, tuberculosis Abstract: Our objective was to determine the contribution of endobronchial ultrasound in the diagnostic yields of acid-fast bacillus smear, nucleic acid amplification tests, and culture in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid for pulmonary tuberculosis. Author Affiliation: Department of Thoracic Medicine, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Chang Gung University, School of Medicine, Taipei, Taiwan Article History: Received 19 August 2009; Revised 22 November 2009; Accepted 9 February 2010 Article Note: (footnote) This project is supported by NSC 97-2314-B-182A-088-MY3, National Science Council, Taiwan, Republic of China., Disclosures: None