Risk factors and maximum standardized uptake values within lymph nodes of anthracosis diagnosed by endobronchial ultrasound-guided transbronchial needle aspiration

Background/aim: Enlarged mediastinal lymph nodes can result from serious etiologies including granulomatous disease, neoplasia, etc., and a rare condition called anthracosis . The aim of this study was to determine the incidence of risk factors and the uptake values within the anthracotic lymph nodes. Materials and methods: 106 patients who underwent endobronchial ultrasound transbronchial needle aspiration and were diagnosed as having anthracosis were analyzed retrospectively. Patients with positive confirmation by surgical biopsies or a 1-year follow-up period were enrolled. Results: 201 lymph nodes were sampled from 106 patients. Subcarinal and interlobar lymph nodes were the most commonly affected stations (36.8% and 34.3%, respectively). The mean durations of exposure to biomass and cigarette smoke were 35.5 and 33 years, respectively. The mean maximum standardized uptake value (SUVmax) within the lymph nodes was 4.76. The SUVmax of the patients with associated malignancy was 4.19 and the SUVmax of nonmalignant patients was 5.28. This difference was statistically significant (P = 0.009). Conclusion: These findings suggest that anthracosis also affects the mediastinal and hilar stations; it should be considered in differential diagnosis in patients with mediastinal and hilar lymphadenopathies with intense uptake on positron emission tomography scans, especially when there is a history of exposure to known risk factors.