- Physical Examination
- Surgical Examination
- Ophthalmology
- Clinical Skills
- Orthopedics
- Surgery Videos
- Laparoscopy
- Pediatrics
- Funny Videos
- Cardiothoracic Surgery
- Nursing Videos
- Plastic Surgery
- Otorhinolaryngology
- Histology and Histopathology
- Neurosurgery
- Dermatology
- Pediatric Surgery
- Urology
- Dentistry
- Oncology and Cancers
- Anatomy Videos
- Health and Fitness
- Radiology
- Anaesthesia
- Physical Therapy
- Pharmacology
- Interventional Radiology
- Cardiology
- Endocrinology
- Gynecology
- Emergency Medicine
- Psychiatry and Psychology
- Childbirth Videos
- General Medical Videos
- Nephrology
- Physiology
- Diet and Food Health
- Diabetes Mellitus
- Neurology
- Women Health
- Osteoporosis
- Gastroenterology
- Pulmonology
- Hematology
- Rheumatology
- Toxicology
- Nuclear Medicine
- Infectious Diseases
- Vascular Disease
- Reproductive Health
- Burns and Wound Healing
- Kidney Zone Podcast
- Other
EBUS (endobronchial ultrasound)
Category: Endoscopy & Camera Tests · All endoscopy & camera tests
What it is
EBUS is a bronchoscopy with a tiny ultrasound probe on the tip of the scope. It lets the specialist see and sample lymph glands and masses beside the airways (in the centre of the chest) with a needle passed through the airway wall under live ultrasound guidance (EBUS-TBNA).
Why it is done
Its main use is diagnosing and staging lung cancer — sampling the chest lymph glands that decide stage and treatment — and investigating enlarged chest glands from other causes such as sarcoidosis, lymphoma and tuberculosis.
How to prepare
Preparation follows bronchoscopy: fasting for several hours, medicines (especially blood thinners) reviewed, sedation planned with an escort home. Recent scans (CT and often PET-CT) guide which glands to sample.
What happens during the procedure
With your throat numbed and sedation given, the scope is passed as in bronchoscopy. The ultrasound probe is pressed against the airway wall to locate each gland, and a fine needle passes through the wall into the gland several times to collect cells. Rapid on-site assessment may check the sample is adequate. It takes about 30 to 60 minutes.
Afterwards — recovery & results
Aftercare matches bronchoscopy: recovery until sedation and throat numbness wear off, nothing to eat or drink until swallowing is safe, and a sore throat or blood-streaked mucus for a day or so are common. Results usually take about a week and feed into the cancer team's staging decisions.
Risks & considerations
Risks are similar to bronchoscopy: bleeding from the sampling site (usually minor), low oxygen during the test, infection (rare) and, very rarely, bleeding into the chest cavity. Serious complications are uncommon, and EBUS has replaced most surgical mediastinoscopy for this purpose.
Related guides on MedicalVideos.com
Frequently asked questions
Why sample glands that look normal size?
Cancer can involve glands that are not enlarged. Staging accuracy depends on sampling the glands that drain the tumour area, whatever their size, when imaging raises questions.
Is EBUS instead of surgery?
For gland staging, yes in most cases — EBUS reaches the same glands through the airway without cuts, which is why surgical staging (mediastinoscopy) is now reserved for specific situations.
Related procedures — Endoscopy & Camera Tests
Browse the E section of the A–Z list or return to the Procedures & Tests hub.