ObjectiveTo analyse epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) gene mutations in pathologically confirmed lung adenocarcinoma (LAC) samples obtained by endobronchial ultrasound-guided transbronchial needle aspiration (EBUS-TBNA). MethodsClinical data of 964 consecutive patients who underwent EBUS-TBNA in Department of Thoracic Surgery, Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center from April 2009 to September 2013 were retrospectively reviewed. EGFR gene mutations in 77 LAC patients who were comfirmed by cell morphology and immunohistochemistry were analyzed. There were 48 males and 29 females with their median age of 61 (range 33-78) years, and 43 patients were smokers. ResultsAll the 77 LAC patients were confirmed by immunohistochemistry. Among them, 31 patients (40.26%) were found to have EGFR gene mutations. There was no statistical difference in EGFR gene mutations between male and female patients (P=0.088). Mutation rate of EGFR genes of non-smokers was significantly higher than that of smokers (P=0.032). ConclusionSamples obtained by EBUS-TBNA can be used for EGFR gene mutations analysis. The mutation rate of EGFR genes of non-smokers is higher than that of smokers.