Pushing the boundaries: transesophageal endoscopic ultrasound-guided fine-needle aspiration for the diagnosis of intraparenchymal pulmonary micronodules

Endobronchial ultrasonography-guided transbronchial needle aspiration (EBUS-TBNA) is nowadays considered widely reliable for mediastinal lymph nodal staging in lung cancer patients. In a few years it has deeply changed the diagnostic algorithms for thoracic diseases and can guide the choice of therapeutic protocols. The use of an EBUS videobronchoscope for transesophageal exploration (EUS-B-FNA) is less conventional. Here we report the case of a patient who underwent transesophageal EUS-B-FNA of a periesophageal pulmonary nodule in order to confirm systemic recurrence of a tracheal tumor. EUS-B-FNA is a reliable alternative technique for the diagnosis of pulmonary lesions, being effective and well tolerated by patients. The versatility of the EBUS bronchoscope gives reason, among others, for the key role it plays in the management of lung cancer patients.