EBUS-GS with the GeneXpert MTB/RIF assay for diagnosis of Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection of isolated pulmonary nodules.

OBJECTIVE

Investigate the use of endobronchial ultrasonography with a guide sheath (EBUS-GS) combined with Gene Xpert MTB/RIF (Xpert) for diagnosis of Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MTB) infection in isolated pulmonary nodules.

METHODS

Patients who had isolated pulmonary nodules and unknown diagnoses at our institution from October 2020 to December 2021 were prospectively examined using EBUS-GS and Xpert. The diagnostic values of using EBUS-GS or bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) with acid-fast staining, MGIT 960 culture, pathological examination, and Xpert for isolated pulmonary nodules caused by MTB infection were compared using receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis.

RESULTS

There were 135 patients, 64 with isolated pulmonary tuberculomas and 71 with non-tuberculous lesions. The sensitivity of EBUS-GS with Xpert was significantly higher than BALF with Xpert (57.81% vs. 34.78%, P = 0.017). Use of EBUS-GS with Xpert and MGIT 960 culture further increased the sensitivity to 62.50% (95%CI 50.64-74.36) and increased the specificity to 100%. The AUC values of BALF with MGIT 960 culture was 0.663(95%CI 0.543-0.783) and BALF with Xpert was 0.674 (95%CI 0.556-0.792). The AUC values of EBUS-GS with MGIT 960 culture was 0.680 (95%CI 0.554-0.743), with pathological examination was 0.713 (95%CI 0.573-0.760), and with Xpert was 0.789 (95%CI 0.655-0.829).

CONCLUSION

Use of EBUS-GS with Xpert had high sensitivity and specificity in the diagnosis of isolated pulmonary tuberculoma. This method has significant potential for use in clinical practice.