Taking into consideration that in most cases of inoperable NSCLC the existing cytological material is critical, we evaluated the real-time PCR detection of EGFR mutations in exons 18, 19, 20 and 21 of adenocarcinoma cells obtained via FNA, EBUS, TBNA, brushing procedures, and thoracentesis. Here, EGFR is linked to adenocarcinoma.