Endobronchial Ultrasound (EBUS)

An EBUS  is a procedure that allows the doctor to look into your main air tubes and take samples from the lymph glands (also called lymph nodes) in the centre of your chest (mediastinum). These glands lie outside the normal breathing tubes (bronchi) and would not be visible without ultrasound. A small camera at the end of the bronchoscope enables the doctor to look directly into your windpipe (trachea) and breathing tubes (bronchi). A small ultrasound probe on the end of the camera allows the doctor to see the glands outside the air tubes and take samples under direct vision using a special needle – this does not hurt.

Most commonly, it is done to take samples from the lymph glands in the centre of your chest  to find out why they are enlarged; this can be for a variety of reasons.