Table 2 Operation parameters, further confirmation modalities, lymph node size and diagnostic yield

Number of lymph nodes biopsied

N = 225

Number of lung mass biopsied

N = 7

Number of esophageal masses biopsied

N = 2

Number of mediastinal masses biopsied

N = 1

Mean period of each TBNA pass (min)

4.9

Mean stay length in hospital (day)

2.0

Complications

No case

Further confirmation modalities

Mediastinoscopy

N = 23

VATS

N = 2

TBLB

N = 2

6-months follow-up

N = 74

Lymph node size (mm)

Long axis

20.4 (6-105)

Short axis

17 (6-50)

Diagnostic yield %

Sensitivity

95.08

Specificity

100

Accuracy

97.02

Positive predictive value (PPV)

100

Negative predictive value (NPV)

93.02