Transbronchial needle injection: a systematic review of a new diagnostic and therapeutic paradigm.
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Transbronchial needle catheters are commonly used during flexible and rigid bronchoscopy for needle aspiration. The use of these catheters can be expanded by employing the technique of transbronchial needle injection. METHODS AND RESULTS: By injecting lesions in the airways, peribronchial structures, mediastinum, or lung parenchyma, transbronchial needle injection has been applied to the treatment of lung cancer, inflammatory disorders of the airways, recurrent respiratory papillomatosis, as well as bronchopleural fistulas. Diagnostic applications have included the localization of peripheral lung nodules as well as sentinel lymph nodes. CONCLUSIONS: Our review defines this bronchoscopic technique and summarizes its various reported applications.