Pancoast tumor echocardiography or ultrasound

Pancoast tumor, a subtype of lung cancer located at the lung apex. On endobronchial and endoscopic ultrasound, characteristic findings of lung cancer may include: enlarged lymph nodes and local invasion to adjacent bronchial structures and mediastinum. Endobronchial ultrasound is a first-line diagnostic modality for mediastinal staging.^[1]

• Endobronchial ultrasound is a first-line diagnostic modality for mediastinal staging.^[1]
• Common features of endobronchial ultrasound, include:^[2]

• Evaluation of lymph nodes and other structures in the mediastinum
• Mediastinum invasion staging
• Determination of management strategy
• Real time evaluation of structures
• Sensitivity 90% and specificity of 97%

• On ultrasound (endobronchial ultrasound), findings of Pancoast tumor may include:^[3]

• Enlarged lymph nodes
• Local invasion to adjacent bronchial structures and mediastinum

• The table below summarizes the advantages and disadvantages of both ultrasound modalities, for the diagnostic assessment of Pancoast tumor.

Procedure	Advantages	Disadvantages
Endobronchial ultrasound (EBUS)	Direct visualization of lymph node stations Complements endoscopic ultrasound: covers lymph node stations 2R and 4R which are difficult to access by endoscopic ultrasound Lower false-negative rate than with blind transbronchial fine needle aspiration and fewer complications	More invasive than endoscopic ultrasound, few practitioners, but rapidly growing in popularity
Endoscopic ultrasound (EUS)	Least invasive modality Uses the esophagus to access mediastinal lymph nodes Excellent for staging lymph nodes Useful for station 2L and 4L, L adrenal, celiac lymph node	Cannot reliably access right sided paratracheal lymph node stations 2 R and 4R Accurate discrimination of primary hilar tumors and involved lymph nodes is important

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