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Endobronchial ultrasound (EBUS) has revolutionized the diagnosis of lung cancer over the last decade. This minimally invasive diagnostic method has also become increasingly important in the case of other diseases such as sarcoidosis, thereby helping to avoid unnecessary diagnostic interventions. This review article provides an update regarding EBUS and discusses current and future developments of this method.

Endobronchial Ultrasound (EBUS) with the two modalities curved and radial EBUS significantly improved the diagnostics in several pulmonary diseases. The examination and staging of mediastinal and hilar lymph nodes in patients with known or suspected lung malignancy as well as the evaluation of unknown pulmonary or mediastinal lesions can be achieved with minimal invasive means when using EBUS. More invasive surgical procedures for diagnostic purposes can be omitted. The diagnostic yield also increases when EBUS is applied in sarcoidosis or mediastinal lymph node tuberculosis but only to some extend in case of lymphoma. Samples obtained by EBUS-TBNA should be handled efficiently to allow molecular analysis in lung cancer. EBUS is a safe procedure, and complication rate is extremely low. Further advances of the EBUS technology focus on improving analysis of the information provided by the ultrasound image and a better tissue sampling by developing of new EBUS bronchoscopes and TBNA-needles.

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