Fig. 1

Study flow diagram. *Of the five patients with reactive hyperplasia, two were confirmed by subsequent mediastinoscopy, and a CT scan of the remaining three patients showed decreased or unchanged lymph node sizes. †All five patients with anthracotic lymph nodes were followed up for more than 6 months, and the lymph node size was decreased or unchanged on subsequent CT. ‡In six patients who were lost to follow-up, the results of EBUS-TBNA were insufficient specimens in three patients and reactive hyperplasia in the other patients. §Histological specimens were classified into five grades: I) epithelioid granulomatous reaction with caseation, II) epithelioid granulomatous reaction without caseation, III) nongranulomatous reaction with necrosis, IV) nonspecific, and V) inadequate sample. EBUS-TBNA, endobronchial ultrasound-guided transbronchial needle aspiration; IGL, intrathoracic granulomatous lymphadenopathy; TB-PCR, polymerase chain reaction for Mycobacterium tuberculosis