ERCP tissue sampling

Diagnostic Efficacy of a Novel Rotating Brush for Endoscopic Sampling of Malignant Biliary Strictures: A Multicenter Prospective Study

INTRODUCTION

Although cytologic examination of biliary stricture brushings obtained by endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography is commonly used for diagnosing malignant biliary strictures (MBSs), it has low sensitivity. Several new brushes have capabilities that are still being debated. We have developed a novel brush working from conventional back-and-forth movement to rotation in situ (RIS) that may be more efficient for MBS sampling. We aimed to compare the MBS detection sensitivity of our RIS brush with that of the conventional brush.

METHODS

In this multicenter prospective study, we enrolled patients who underwent endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography for suspected MBSs involving biliary stricture brushings obtained using our RIS brush. The historical control group consisted of the 30-brushing arm of our previous randomized trial (patient inclusion, 2018-2020) that used the study design in the same centers and with the same endoscopists as were used in this study. The primary outcome was to compare the sensitivity and specificity of detecting MBSs by cytologic evaluation of biliary stricture brushings between the 2 groups.

RESULTS

We enrolled 155 patients in the intent-to-treat analysis. Using the same number of brushing cycles, the RIS brush showed a higher sensitivity than the conventional brush (0.73 vs 0.56, P = 0.003). In per-protocol population, the sensitivity was also higher in the RIS brush group than in the conventional brush group (0.75 vs 0.57, P = 0.002). Multivariate analysis revealed that the RIS brush was the only predictive factor for MBS detection. No significant differences were observed in procedure-related complications between the 2 groups.

DISCUSSION

The RIS brush was a promising tool for effective and safe MBS sampling and diagnosis. Further randomized studies are warranted to confirm our results (Chictr.org.cn, identifier: ChiCTR2100047270).

Combining brushing cytology with simultaneous vacuum aspiration in suspicious biliopancreatic malignancies: A multicenter propensity score-matched study (with video)

BACKGROUND

Brush cytology during endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) is a standard approach in diagnosing biliopancreatic strictures, with yet unsatisfying sensitivity.

AIMS

We brought additional simultaneous vacuum aspiration to brushing process and re-evaluate the diagnostic performance.

METHODS

This multi-centered retrospective study was conducted in three tertiary centers. Consecutive patients with biliopancreatic strictures were identified. The patients were divided into two arms: the conventional arm (CA) receiving general brushing approach, and the modified arm (MA) being treated with additional vacuum aspiration when performing bushing. The 1:1 propensity-score matching was implemented to tackle the selective biases.

RESULTS

A total of 555 patients were identified and 200 patient pairs (193 males, 207 females, with a mean age of 68.1 ± 13.1 years.) fell into the ultimate evaluation. A final diagnosis of malignant stricture was established in 243 patients. The diagnostic yield of the MA group was substantially better than that of the CA group, whether "suspicious malignancies" were considered malignancies or not. The rates of sensitivity, specificity and accuracy were 46.2%, 100%, 68.0% in the MA group, and 15.3%, 98.7%, and 47.0% in the CA group respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

Brushing accompanied by simultaneous vacuum aspiration at ERCP improves the diagnostic yield in suspicious biliopancreatic malignancies.

Usefulness of Direct Peroral Cholangioscopy Using a Multibending Ultraslim Endoscope for the Management of Intrahepatic Bile Duct Lesions (with Videos)

Background/Aims

: Peroral cholangioscopy (POC) has been used to assess intrahepatic duct (IHD) lesions but with a limited role. A new multibending (MB) ultraslim endoscope has been designed to improve POC performance. We evaluated the usefulness of POC using the MB ultraslim endoscope for the management of IHD lesions.

Methods

: Between March 2017 and March 2020, 22 patients underwent direct POC using the MB ultraslim endoscope for IHD lesions documented by previous imaging or cholangiopancreatography. The primary outcome was technical success of POC, and secondary outcomes were technical success of POC-guided interventions, median procedure time, and POC-related adverse events.

Results

: The technical success rate for POC using the MB ultraslim endoscope for IHD lesions was 95.5% (21/22). Free-hand insertion was successful in 95.2% (20/21). The overall technical success rate for POC-guided intervention was 100% (21/21), including nine diagnostic and 12 therapeutic procedures (eight direct stone removal and four intraductal lithotripsies). The median procedure time was 29 minutes (range, 9 to 79 minutes). There were no procedure-related adverse events.

Conclusions

: Direct POC using the MB ultraslim endoscope allows direct visualization of IHD lesions and may be useful for diagnosis and therapeutic management in selected patients.

Diagnostic value of new biliary biopsy cannulae for malignant bile duct strictures via endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography pathway

BACKGROUND

Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) plays a major role in the diagnosis of malignant biliary strictures. ERCP fluoroscopy-guided biliary biopsy is more sensitive than brushing, but it is more difficult to perform and less successful. Therefore, a new technique of biliary biopsy using a new biliary biopsy cannula via the ERCP route was developed in our center with the aim of improving the diagnosis rate of malignant biliary strictures.

METHODS

This is a retrospective study that included 42 patients who underwent ERCP-guided biliary brushing and biliary biopsy for biliary strictures using a new biliary biopsy cannula in our department from January 2019 to May 2022. The final diagnosis was determined after brushing, biliary biopsy under the new biliary biopsy cannula or adequate follow-up. Diagnostic rates were calculated and analyzed for relevant factors.

RESULTS

The satisfactory rates of pathological specimens of 42 patients who underwent bile duct biopsy with bile duct brush and new bile duct biopsy cannula were 57.14% and 95.24% respectively. Cholangiocarcinoma was diagnosed in 45.23% and 83.30% of the samples by biliary brush examination and biliary biopsy using the new biliary biopsy cannula, respectively (p < 0.001).

CONCLUSIONS

The ERCP route using a new biliary biopsy cannula for biliary biopsy technique can improve pathology positivity and benefit ratio. It provides a new approach in the diagnosis of malignant stenosis in the bile duct.

Innovative method for the diagnosis of bile duct lesions using a novel tapered-tip sheath system to facilitate biliary biopsies

BACKGROUND AND AIMS

Pathologic evaluation of bile duct lesions is crucial for a definitive diagnosis and determination of an appropriate therapeutic strategy; however, current methods are limited by several challenges. This study evaluated the impact of a novel tapered-tip sheath system on biliary stricture diagnosis.

METHODS

This observational study evaluated 47 consecutive patients who underwent transpapillary biliary stricture biopsy using the novel tapered-tip sheath system from July 2020 to March 2022 compared with 51 historical control subjects undergoing conventional biopsies. Technical success rate, total biopsy time, number of biopsy specimens, adequate tissue sampling rate, adverse events, and diagnostic performance for biliary strictures were assessed.

RESULTS

The technical success rate was favorable in both groups, showing no significant difference (97.9% [46 of 47] vs 88.2% [45 of 51], P = .114). However, the total biopsy time was significantly shorter in the novel system group (3.7 vs 7.7 minutes, P < .001). The number of biopsy specimens did not differ between the groups; however, the novel system group had significantly more cases in which ≥3 tissue samples could be obtained (71.7% [33 of 46] vs 51.1% [23 of 45], P = .043), a higher adequate tissue sampling rate (88.2% vs 66.4%, P < .001), and fewer adverse events (6.4% vs 21.6%, P = .043). Although the diagnostic specificity of both groups was 100%, the novel system group had significantly higher diagnostic sensitivity and accuracy (82.1% vs 50% [P = .004] and 84.8% vs 55.5% [P = .005], respectively).

CONCLUSIONS

The novel tapered-tip sheath system is a promising tool for biliary stricture diagnosis.

Using Endoscopy in the Diagnosis of Pancreato-Biliary Cancers

Pancreatic cancer and cholangiocarcinoma are life threatening oncological conditions with poor prognosis and outcome. Pancreatic cystic lesions are considered precursors of pancreatic cancer as some of them have the potential to progress to malignancy. Therefore, accurate identification and classification of these lesions is important to prevent the development of invasive cancer. In the biliary tract, the accurate characterization of biliary strictures is essential for providing appropriate management and avoiding unnecessary surgery. Techniques have been developed to improve the diagnosis, risk stratification, and management of pancreato-biliary lesions. Endoscopic ultrasound (EUS) and associated techniques, such as elastography, contrasted-enhanced EUS, and EUS-guided needle confocal laser endomicroscopy, may improve diagnostic accuracy. In addition, intraductal techniques applied during endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP), such as new generation cholangioscopy and in vivo cellular evaluation through probe-based confocal laser endomicroscopy, can increase the diagnostic yield in characterizing indeterminate biliary strictures. Both EUS-guided and intraductal approaches can provide the possibility for tissue sampling with new tools, such as needles, biopsies forceps, and brushes. At the molecular level, novel biomarkers have been explored that provide new insights into diagnosis, risk stratification, and management of these lesions.

Observation for the feasibility of a bile duct biopsy technique using a loop-tip guidewire during endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography

Endoscopists frequently have difficulty approaching biliary lesions using biopsy forceps. The aim of this study was not only to describe an easy technique for biliary biopsy assisted by a looped guidewire but also to present preliminary results regarding its safety and feasibility. A preliminary proof-of-concept study was performed at a single tertiary medical center. Between August 2019 and January 2020, 13 patients with bile duct strictures underwent endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) with a new loop guidewire-assisted forceps approach technique. The efficacy and safety were evaluated using the success rate as the primary outcome and diagnostic yield and complication rates as secondary outcomes. The tissue sampling success rate was 100% (13/13). All samples were acceptable for histopathological analysis. Eleven specimens were confirmed to be adenocarcinomas. After reexamination of the remaining 2 patients, all cases were eventually diagnosed as being malignant. The sensitivity of the single procedure was 84.6% (11/13). There were 2 patients with mild hyperamylasemia, but there were no severe complications with respect to safety. This new technique could enhance the success rate and diagnostic yield and reduce the risk of failure when using the biopsy forceps approach during ERCP.

A Case of Lymphoid Hyperplasia of the Gallbladder Extending to the Bile Duct

A 72-year-old woman was referred for the examination of wall thickening of the bile duct and a polyp-like lesion on the gallbladder. The bile duct and gallbladder lesions were observed to be continuous on abdominal ultrasonography. We performed a bile duct biopsy, and pathological findings showed hyperplasia of the lymphoid follicles without malignancy. We considered these two lesions to be the same lesion, and laparoscopic cholecystectomy was performed to make a definite diagnosis. The pathological examination of the resected gallbladder also showed hyperplasia of the lymphoid follicles. We diagnosed the patient with lymphoid hyperplasia of the gallbladder extending to the bile duct.

Histological assessment of new cholangioscopy-guided forceps in ERCP biliary stricture sampling: a blinded comparative study

Background and study aims  Obtaining quality tissue during ERCP biliary stricture sampling is of paramount importance for a timely diagnosis. While single-operator cholangioscopy (SOC)-guided biopsies have been suggested to be the superior biliary tissue acquisition modality given direct tissue visualization, less is known about the specimen histological quality. We aimed to analyze the specimen quality of SOC biopsies and compare the new generation forceps with prior "legacy" forceps. Patients and methods  Patients who underwent SOC from January 2017-August 2021 for biliary sampling were reviewed. In February 2020, the SOC-guided biopsy forceps were changed from legacy SpyBite to the SpyBite Max forceps (max). Specimens were assessed by blinded pathologists for crush artifact (none, mild, or severe) and gross size (greatest dimension in mm). Crush artifact and gross size were compared between the two groups. The diagnostic performance characteristics for cholangiocarcinoma (CCA), were assessed in an exploratory fashion. Results  Eighty-one patients (max = 27, legacy = 54) with similar baseline characteristics were included in this study. On blinded pathological assessment, 58 % had crush artifact, without significant differences between the two groups (Max 63 % vs. Legacy 56 %; P  = 0.64). A similar mean specimen size was found (max 3 mm vs. legacy 3.2 mm; P  = 0.24). The overall prevalence of CCA was 40 %. The sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, and negative predictive value of the entire cohort using a combination of cytology, fluorescence in situ hybridization, and SOC-guided biopsies were 78.1 %, 91.8 %, 86.2 %, and 86.5 %, respectively. No difference between legacy or max groups was found. Conclusions  A high rate of crush artifact was found in SOC-guided biopsy specimens. Further investigation regarding proper biopsy technique and handling is necessary to increase the diagnostic yield with SOC-guided biopsies.

MicroRNAs as Indicators of Malignancy in Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma (PDAC) and Cystic Pancreatic Lesions

The dysregulation of microRNAs has recently been associated with cancer development and progression in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) and cystic pancreatic lesions. In solid pancreatic tumor tissue, the dysregulation of miR-146, miR-196a/b, miR-198, miR-217, miR-409, and miR-490, as well as miR-1290 has been investigated in tumor biopsies of patients with PDAC and was reported to predict cancer presence. However, the value of the predictive biomarkers may further be increased during clinical conditions suggesting cancer development such as hyperinsulinemia or onset of diabetes. In this specific context, the dysregulation of miR-486 and miR-196 in tumors has been observed in the tumor tissue of PDAC patients with newly diagnosed diabetes mellitus. Moreover, miR-1256 is dysregulated in pancreatic cancer, possibly due to the interaction with long non-coding RNA molecules that seem to affect cell-cycle control and diabetes manifestation in PDAC patients, and, thus, these three markers may be of special or “sentinel value”. In blood samples, Next-generation sequencing (NGS) has also identified a set of microRNAs (miR-20a, miR-31-5p, miR-24, miR-25, miR-99a, miR-185, and miR-191) that seem to differentiate patients with pancreatic cancer remarkably from healthy controls, but limited data exist in this context regarding the prediction of cancer presences and outcomes. In contrast to solid pancreatic tumors, in cystic pancreatic cancer lesions, as well as premalignant lesions (such as intraductal papillary neoplasia (IPMN) or mucinous-cystic adenomatous cysts (MCAC)), the dysregulation of a completely different expression panel of miR-31-5p, miR-483-5p, miR-99a-5p, and miR-375 has been found to be of high clinical value in differentiating benign from malignant lesions. Interestingly, signal transduction pathways associated with miR-dysregulation seem to be entirely different in patients with pancreatic cysts when compared to PDAC. Overall, the determination of these different dysregulation “panels” in solid tumors, pancreatic cysts, obtained via fine-needle aspirate biopsies and/or in blood samples at the onset or during the treatment of pancreatic diseases, seems to be a reasonable candidate approach for predicting cancer presence, cancer development, and even therapy responses.

Clinical impact of a novel device delivery system in the diagnosis of bile duct lesions: A single-center experience

BACKGROUND AND AIM

Pathological evaluation is essential for the diagnosis of biliary tract diseases. However, existing evaluation methods have various challenges in terms of operability and diagnostic performance. The present study aimed to evaluate the feasibility, utility, and safety of a novel device delivery system for bile duct biopsy.

METHODS

This study was conducted as a retrospective, descriptive analysis at a single center. Overall, 25 examinations in 14 consecutive patients who underwent transpapillary biopsies for biliary lesions using the novel device delivery system from July to November 2020 were reviewed. Number and time of biopsy, technical success rate, adequate tissue sampling rate, adverse events, and diagnostic performance of bile duct biopsies using the novel device were evaluated. Moreover, negative surgical margins were assessed in patients who underwent surgical resection after mapping biopsy.

RESULTS

The median number of biopsy samples was five (range: 2-13), with a median biopsy time of 11.6 min. The technical success rate was 100% (140/140), with an adequate sampling rate of 82.9% (116/140). These rates did not differ depending on the biopsy site or purpose. There were no serious adverse events related to the procedures. The diagnostic sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy of biliary stricture were 90%, 100%, and 92.3%, respectively. Negative surgical margins were confirmed in all patients undergoing surgical resection, including one patient with a surgical procedure changed based on the results of mapping biopsy.

CONCLUSIONS

The novel device delivery system has potentials in diagnosing biliary tract diseases and determining appropriate treatment strategies.

Brush Cytology, Forceps Biopsy, or Endoscopic Ultrasound-Guided Sampling for Diagnosis of Bile Duct Cancer: A Meta-Analysis

Endoscopic sampling is essential for tissue diagnosis of cholangiocarcinoma (CCA). To evaluate and compare the diagnostic sensitivities of endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography-guided brush cytology biopsy, and endoscopic ultrasound-guided fine needle aspiration (EUS-FNA) in patients with CCA. A comprehensive literature search through multiple databases was conducted for articles published between January 1995 and August 2020. The pooled rates of sensitivity for the diagnosis of CCA and of adverse events were compared among brushing, biopsy, brushing & biopsy, and EUS-FNA. In total, 1123 patients with CCA (32 studies), 719 patients (20 studies), 358 patients (13 studies), and 422 patients (17 studies) were tested by brushing, biopsy, brushing & biopsy, and EUS-FNA, respectively. The pooled diagnostic sensitivity was 56.0% (95% confidence interval (CI) 48.8-63.1%, I² = 83.0%) with brushing, 67.0% (95% CI 60.2-73.5%, I² = 72.5%) with biopsy, 70.7% (95% CI 64.1-76.8%, I² = 42.7%) with brushing & biopsy, and 73.6% (95% CI 64.7-81.5%, I² = 74.7%) with EUS-FNA. The diagnostic sensitivity was significantly lower for brushing than for biopsy, brushing & biopsy, or EUS-FNA. No significant difference was noted in diagnostic sensitivities among biopsy, brushing & biopsy, and EUS-FNA. Adverse events were comparable between the groups. Intraductal biopsy, brushing & biopsy, and EUS-FNA had comparable efficacy and safety for the diagnosis of CCA. Brushing was the least sensitive diagnostic tool compared with intraductal biopsy or EUS-FNA. Given the modest diagnostic sensitivities of intraductal biopsy and EUS-FNA in the diagnosis of CCA, further studies for complementing these techniques with biomarkers may be needed.

Endobiliary biopsy

The differential diagnosis between benign and malignant biliary strictures is challenging and requires a multidisciplinary approach with the use of serum biomarkers, imaging techniques, and several modalities of endoscopic or percutaneous tissue sampling. The diagnosis of biliary strictures consists of laboratory markers, and invasive and non-invasive imaging examinations such as computed tomography (CT), contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography, and endoscopic ultrasonography (EUS). Nevertheless, invasive imaging modalities combined with tissue sampling are usually required to confirm the diagnosis of suspected malignant biliary strictures, while pathological diagnosis is mandatory to decide the optimal therapeutic strategy. Although EUS-guided fine-needle aspiration biopsy is currently the standard procedure for tissue sampling of solid pancreatic mass lesions, its diagnostic value in intraductal infiltrating type of cholangiocarcinoma remains limited. Moreover, the "endobiliary approach" using novel slim biopsy forceps, transpapillary and percutaneous cholangioscopy, and intraductal ultrasound-guided biopsy, is gaining ground on traditional endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography and percutaneous transhepatic cholangiography endobiliary forceps biopsy. This review focuses on the available endobiliary techniques currently used to perform biliary strictures biopsy, comparing the diagnostic performance of endoscopic and percutaneous approaches.

More Endoscopy-Based Brushing Passes Improve the Detection of Malignant Biliary Strictures: A Multicenter Randomized Controlled Trial

INTRODUCTION

Endoscopic biliary brushing is the most common method used for sampling in patients with malignant biliary strictures (MBSs); however, its sensitivity is relatively low. There is still no consensus on endoscopy-based biliary brushing, although brushing 10 times in 1 specimen is routinely performed. This study was designed to compare the sensitivity of brush cytology for 10, 20, or 30 brushing times of a pass in 1 specimen in patients with MBSs.

METHODS

In this multicenter, prospective, randomized controlled study, patients who underwent endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography for suspected MBSs were enrolled. Patients were randomly assigned to receive 10, 20, and 30 brushing times of a pass. The primary outcome was to compare the sensitivity of brush cytology among the 3 groups. Patients were prospectively followed up for 6 months after endoscopic brushing for malignancy diagnosis.

RESULTS

A total of 443 patients were enrolled for intention-to-treat analysis (147, 148, and 148 patients in the 10-times, 20-times, and 30-time groups, respectively). The 3 groups were similar in baseline characteristics. The sensitivity of brush cytology was 38%, 47%, and 57% in the 10-times, 20-times, and 30-times groups, respectively, and the 30-times group showed significantly higher sensitivity than the 10-times group (P = 0.001). The multivariate analysis revealed that stricture length and the number of brushing passes were significant factors for the detection of biliary malignancy. No significant differences were observed in procedure-related complications among the 3 groups.

DISCUSSION

Brushing 30 times could increase the diagnostic sensitivity without increasing complications and seems to be preferred for the endoscopic sampling and diagnosis of MBSs (chictr.org.cn, identifier: ChiCTR1800015978).

Increasing the Yield: When More Is Better

Indeterminate biliary strictures pose a diagnostic challenge, and current approaches in the evaluation of such strictures lack diagnostic sensitivity. The most common method of tissue acquisition remains endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) with brush cytology, however, little is known about optimal brush technique. In this paper by Wang et al., the authors compare the diagnostic sensitivity of brush cytology for 10, 20, and 30 passes in patients with malignant biliary strictures. The authors found an increase in sensitivity with an increasing number of passes, without an associated increase in adverse events. This well-designed study offers a simple and safe intervention which can increase the diagnostic sensitivity of ERCP-based brushing without requiring significant time, expense, or additional expertise.

Evaluation and diagnostic value of next-generation sequencing analysis of residual liquid-based cytology specimens of pancreatic masses

BACKGROUND

Liquid-based cytology (LBC) is a widely used method for processing specimens obtained by endoscopic biopsy. This study evaluated next-generation sequencing (NGS) analysis of LBC specimens to improve the diagnostic accuracy of pancreatic lesions.

METHODS

Upon the diagnosis of a suspected pancreatic mass, LBC residues were used retrospectively. The quantity and quality of DNA extracted from residual LBC samples were evaluated, and an NGS analysis targeting 6 genes (KRAS, GNAS, TP53, CDKN2A, SMAD4, and PIK3CA) was performed.

RESULTS

The library was prepared from LBC specimens taken from 52 cases: 44 were successful, and 8 preparations failed. An analysis of DNA quantity and quality suggested that the success or failure of NGS implementation depended on both properties. The final diagnosis was achieved by a combination of the pathological analysis of the surgical excision or biopsy material with clinical information. Among the 33 cases of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC), KRAS, TP53, CDKN2A, and SMAD4 mutations were identified in 31 (94%), 16 (48%), 3 (9%), and 2 (6%), respectively. Among the 11 benign cases, only a KRAS mutation was identified in 1 case. On the basis of NGS results, 18 of 33 PDACs (55%) were classified as highly dysplastic or more, and 10 of 11 benign lesions were evaluated as nonmalignant, which was consistent with the final diagnosis.

CONCLUSIONS

NGS analysis using LBC specimens from which DNA of appropriate quantity and quality has been extracted could contribute to improving the assessment of pancreatic tumor malignancies and the application of molecular-targeted drugs.

Improving Diagnostic Yield in Indeterminate Biliary Strictures

Indeterminate biliary strictures are defined as a narrowing of the bile duct that cannot be differentiated as malignant or benign after performing cross-sectional imaging and an ERCP. Identifying the etiology of a bile duct stricture is the single most important step in determining whether a complex and potentially morbid surgical resection is warranted. Due to this diagnostic and therapeutic dilemma, new technologies, laboratory tests, and procedures are emerging to solve this problem.

Tissue Sampling through Endoscopic Ultrasound-Guided Fine Needle Aspiration versus Endoscopic Retrograde Cholangiopancreatographic Brushing Cytology Technique in Suspicious Malignant Biliary Stricture

BACKGROUND Differentiation of benign and malignant biliary strictures plays a pivotal role in managing biliary strictures. Brush cytology via endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) and endoscopic ultrasound-guided fine-needle aspiration (EUS-FNA) are two diagnostic methods. In the present study, we aimed to compare the accuracy of the results of EUS-FNA and ERCP-based sampling of biliary strictures. METHODS In a prospective study, between January 2019 and March 2020, patients with indeterminate biliary strictures who had no history of hepatobiliary surgery, opium usage, cancer of pancratobiliary system, and acute liver disease were selected. They underwent EUS and ERCP in the same session. They were followed up for 6 months, and the sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive values, and accuracy of these imaging modalities were compared. RESULTS A total of 60 patients were enrolled. 28 lesions were located in the distal and 32 lesions in the proximal parts of the biliary tree. 55 malignant and 5 benign lesions were diagnosed. The sensitivity and accuracy of EUS-FNA and ERCP tissue sampling were 78.2% and 80.0% versus 50.9% and 55.0%, respectively (p = 0.024). The combination of both methods improved the sensitivity and accuracy to 85.5% and 86.7%, respectively. Regarding the location, EUS-FNA is superior to ERCP-brush cytology in diagnosing proximal lesions with sensitivity and specificity of 73.3% and 75.0% vs. 50.0% and 53.1%, respectively (p = 0.04). CONCLUSION EUS-FNA is superior to ERCP brushing in the diagnosis of indeterminate biliary strictures, particularly in distal lesions. Combining ERCP brushing and EUS-FNA improves the diagnosis accuracy.

Biliary Strictures: A Surgeon's Perspective for Interventional Radiologists

Biliary strictures can be a challenging clinical problem to manage and often have unclear etiologies, including benign and malignant causes. Left untreated, these problems can lead to significant morbidity and mortality linked to their underlying diagnosis. The approach to adult patients with biliary strictures requires a multidisciplinary team involving surgeons, interventional endoscopists, and interventional radiologists for diagnosis, symptom relief, palliation, as well as potential curative management. From a surgeon's perspective, there are many ways to classify and approach these strictures. It is of paramount importance to start with an excellent understanding of the patient's prior surgical history. In approaching a patient with a new diagnosis of biliary stricture, it is also critical to understand its etiology relatively quickly, as 70% are malignant in the adult population. Concurrently, one must clearly define the location and extent of the stricture: intrahepatic, hilar, or distal extrahepatic bile duct, as well as whether it is a singular lesion or multifocal phenotypes. This information provides a path forward in clinical decision-making regarding durability and efficacy of therapy, which is typically aimed at decompression and/or surgical resection to prevent cholangitis, sepsis, and progressive hepatic insufficiency.

Endoscopic ultrasound (EUS) and the management of pancreatic cancer

Pancreatic cancer is one of the leading causes of cancer-related mortality in western countries. Early diagnosis of pancreatic cancers plays a key role in the management by identification of patients who are surgical candidates. The advancement in the radiological imaging and interventional endoscopy (including endoscopic ultrasound (EUS), endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography and endoscopic enteral stenting techniques) has a significant impact in the diagnostic evaluation, staging and treatment of pancreatic cancer. The multidisciplinary involvement of radiology, gastroenterology, medical oncology and surgical oncology is central to the management of patients with pancreatic cancers. This review aims to highlight the diagnostic and therapeutic role of EUS in the management of patients with pancreatic malignancy, especially pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma.

Fluoroscopy-guided shaped endobiliary biopsy at endoscopic retrograde cholangiography can accurately diagnose biliary neoplasia: Results from a large cohort

Background and study aims  The sensitivity of using standard endobiliary forceps biopsy to diagnose neoplastic biliary lesions remains low. We have developed a unique biopsy approach, termed fluoroscopy-guided, shaped endobiliary biopsy (FSEB), in which the biopsy forceps are modified to improve diagnostic yield. In this study, we evaluate the diagnostic characteristics of FSEB for endobiliary lesions at endoscopic retrograde cholangiography (ERC). Patients and methods  Consecutive patients undergoing FSEB between 1/2001 and 12/2014 were retrospectively enrolled. The identification of neoplastic lesions with FSEB, was the primary endpoint. The gold standard of neoplasia was histopathology, cytology or surgical histopathology. The benign cases were followed up for one year. Results  A total of 204 patients undergoing 250 biopsy sessions by FSEB were analyzed. Per-patient analysis was performed and FSEB showed 81.1 % sensitivity and 88.2 % accuracy. FSEB detection of proximal biliary lesions was more sensitive (91.1 % vs 73.2 %, P  < 0.01) and accurate (94.9 % vs 82.2 %, P  < 0.01) compared to distal lesions. No complications from FSEB were reported. Conclusions  FSEB shows high accuracy for diagnosis of neoplasia in biliary strictures, especially for proximal lesions. Future prospective randomized controlled studies are merited to further validate the role of FSEB as the first-line sampling tool for evaluation of biliary neoplasm.

Combination of ERCP-Based Modalities Increases Diagnostic Yield for Biliary Strictures

BACKGROUND

Biliary stricture evaluation with brush cytology and intraductal forceps biopsy carries a low sensitivity, but the combination of newer modalities may improve sensitivity.

AIM

To determine whether the addition of advanced modalities increases diagnostic yield of ERCP-based sampling.

METHODS

This single-center retrospective study evaluates patients with biliary strictures sampled using brush cytology. Operating characteristics were calculated for individual and combinations of modalities including cholangioscopy, fluoroscopy- and cholangioscopy-directed intraductal biopsy, fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH), and confocal laser endomicroscopy. Analyses under Standard Criteria (SC) included malignant results as "positive" and Expanded Criteria (EC) included "suspicious" and "high-grade dysplasia" results as "positive."

RESULTS

A total of 614 patients were included, and 354 (57.8%) received brush cytology alone, which had a sensitivity of 38.5% (SC) to 40.3% (EC) and a specificity of 97.8% (EC) to 99.3% (SC). Combining brush cytology with fluoroscopy-guided biopsy (n = 259, 42.2%) had a sensitivity of 62.5% (SC) to 67.9% (EC) and specificity of 90.2% (EC) to 96.7% (SC). Adding FISH to brush cytology had a sensitivity of 84.2% (SC) to 87.5% (EC) and specificity of 54.1% (SC and EC), while cholangioscopy visualization addition resulted in a sensitivity of 80.4% (SC) to 92.2% (EC) and specificity of 67.3% (EC) to 89.1% (SC). There were no significant differences in sensitivity and specificity using SC and EC.

CONCLUSIONS

Brush cytology has a low sensitivity, but the addition of other modalities increases sensitivity. There was no difference in specificity between the SC and the EC, supporting the inclusion of "suspicious" impressions with malignant results at our center.

Human Bile Contains Cholangiocyte Organoid-Initiating Cells Which Expand as Functional Cholangiocytes in Non-canonical Wnt Stimulating Conditions

Diseases of the bile duct (cholangiopathies) remain a common indication for liver transplantation, while little progress has been made over the last decade in understanding the underlying pathophysiology. This is largely due to lack of proper in vitro model systems to study cholangiopathies. Recently, a culture method has been developed that allows for expansion of human bile duct epithelial cells grown as extrahepatic cholangiocyte organoids (ncECOs) in non-canonical Wnt-stimulating conditions. These ncECOs closely resemble cholangiocytes in culture and have shown to efficiently repopulate collagen scaffolds that could act as functional biliary tissue in mice. Thus far, initiation of ncECOs required tissue samples, thereby limiting broad patient-specific applications. Here, we report that bile fluid, which can be less invasively obtained and with low risk for the patients, is an alternative source for culturing ncECOs. Further characterization showed that bile-derived cholangiocyte organoids (ncBCOs) are highly similar to ncECOs obtained from bile duct tissue biopsies. Compared to the previously reported bile-cholangiocyte organoids cultured in canonical Wnt-stimulation conditions, ncBCOs have superior function of cholangiocyte ion channels and are able to respond to secretin and somatostatin. In conclusion, bile is a new, less invasive, source for patient-derived cholangiocyte organoids and makes their regenerative medicine applications more safe and feasible.

Intraductal Tissue Sampling Device Designed for the Biliary Tract

Clinical sampling of tissue that is read by a pathologist is currently the gold standard for making a disease diagnosis, but the few minimally invasive techniques available for small duct biopsies have low sensitivity, increasing the likelihood of false negative diagnoses. We propose a novel biopsy device designed to accurately sample tissue in a biliary stricture under fluoroscopy or endoscopic guidance. The device consists of thin blades organized around the circumference of a cylinder that are deployed into a cutting annulus capable of comprehensively sampling tissue from a stricture. A parametric study of the device performance was done using finite element analysis; this includes the blade deployment under combined axial compression and torsion followed by an axial 'cutting' step. The clinical feasibility of the device is determined by considering maximum deployment forces, the radial expansion achieved and the cutting stiffness. We find practical parameters for the device operation to be an overall length of 10 mm and a diameter of 3.5 mm for a [Formula: see text] blade thickness, which allow the device to be safely deployed with a force of 10N and achieve an expansion over 3x its original diameter. A model device was fabricated with these parameters and a [Formula: see text] thickness out of a NiTi superalloy and tested to validate the performance. The device showed strong agreement with an equivalent numerical model, reaching a peak force within 2% of that predicted numerically and fully recovering after compression to 20% of its length. Clinical and Translational Impact Statement -This pre-clinical research conceptually demonstrates a novel expandable device to biopsy tissue in narrow strictures during an ERCP procedure. It can greatly improve diagnostic tissue yield compared to existing methods.

Assessment of different modalities for repeated tissue acquisition in diagnosing malignant biliary strictures: A two-center retrospective study

OBJECTIVE

Various modalities are applied for pathological diagnosis of malignant biliary strictures (MBS), including brush cytology (BC), forceps biopsy (FB) and endoscopic ultrasound-guided fine needle aspiration (EUS-FNA). We aimed to assess the value of these modalities in a repeated tissue acquisition process for biliary strictures with initially inconclusive pathological outcomes.

METHODS

Patients who were suspected of having MBS and underwent a BC in two large teaching hospitals were retrospectively included. The sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive values, and accuracy of the initial and repeated BC, FB and EUS-FNA were analyzed. Their performances were compared to determine which modality was superior in repeated tissue acquisition.

RESULTS

In total, 476 patients were included. The sensitivity, specificity and accuracy in diagnosing MBS for the initial BC were 30.3%, 100% and 55.0%, respectively. Altogether 39, 27 and 44 patients underwent a repeat BC, FB and EUS-FNA, respectively. The sensitivity for repeated BC, FB and EUS-FNA was 41.2%, 61.1% and 44.4%, respectively, whereas their specificity all reached 100%. When comparing diagnostic accuracy, none of the modalities was superior (74.4% vs 74.1% vs 54.5%, P = 0.173). In the repeated process, one patient who underwent BC and two underwent FB developed mild pancreatitis.

CONCLUSIONS

Repeated tissue acquisition achieves a conclusive diagnosis of MBS in nearly half patients who have an initially inconclusive cytological diagnosis. None of the tissue acquisition methods is significantly superior in the repeated process.

Cystic biliary tumors of the liver: diagnostic criteria and common pitfalls

With major advancements and frequent use of abdominal imaging techniques, hepatic cysts are increasingly encountered in clinical practice. Although the majority of cysts are benign, a small subset represents neoplastic precursors to cholangiocarcinoma. These cystic precursors include intraductal papillary neoplasms of the bile duct (IPNB) and mucinous cystic neoplasms of the liver (MCN-L), and bear striking pathologic resemblance to corresponding cystic neoplastic precursors within the pancreas. This review examines the salient clinical, gross, microscopic and molecular features of IPNBs and MCN-Ls, and, in particular, provides histopathologic comparison to their pancreatic counterparts. Considering these neoplasms may be diagnostically challenging, we also discuss other hepatic lesions within the differential diagnosis, and the potential for molecular methods to improve their preoperative evaluation and the early detection of cholangiocarcinoma.

Determining the Indeterminate Biliary Stricture: Cholangioscopy and Beyond

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

Indeterminate biliary strictures (IDBS) continue to be an area of frustration for clinicians. Standard endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) with conventional brush cytology and/or forceps biopsy has a low sensitivity for distinguishing benign from malignant biliary strictures. A delay in diagnosis of malignancy has consequences for subsequent therapy or surgery. In this article, we review current and emerging technologies that may aid in this diagnostic dilemma.

RECENT FINDINGS

Several technologies have been utilized in IDBS to establish a diagnosis which include peroral cholangioscopy, confocal laser endomicroscopy, endoscopic ultrasound with fine needle aspiration, intraductal ultrasound, optical coherence tomography, fluorescence in situ hybridization, next generation sequencing, integrated molecular pathology, and DNA-image cytometry. While cholangioscopy and confocal laser endomicroscopy have become standards of care in expert centers for the evaluation of patients with IDBS, there are several endoscopic and molecular modalities that may also aid in establishing a diagnosis. Further head-to-head prospective diagnostic studies as well as cost-efficacy studies are needed.

Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography guided interventions in the management of pancreatic cancer

Pancreatic cancer is the leading cause of cancer-related morbidity and mortality with an overall five-year survival of less than 9% in the United States. At presentation, the majority of patients have painless jaundice, pruritis, and malaise, a triad that develops secondary to obstruction, which often occurs late in the course of the disease process. The technical advancements in radiological imaging and endoscopic interventions have played a crucial role in the diagnosis, staging, and management of patients with pancreatic cancer. Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP)-guided diagnosis (with brush cytology, serial pancreatic juice aspiration cytologic examination technique, or biliary biopsy) and therapeutic interventions such as pancreatobiliary decompression, intraductal and relief of gastric outlet obstruction play a pivotal role in the management of advanced pancreatic cancer and are increasingly used due to improved morbidity and complication rates compared to surgical management. In this review, we highlight various ERCP-guided diagnostic and therapeutic interventions for the management of pancreatic cancer.

Cholangiocarcinoma: Diagnosis and Management

Cholangiocarcinoma is a highly lethal biliary epithelial tumor that is rare in the general population but has increased rates in patients with primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC). It is heterogenous, and management varies by location. No effective prevention exists, and screening is likely only feasible in PSC. Patients often present in an advanced state with jaundice, weight loss, and cholestatic liver enzymes. Diagnosis requires imaging with magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography, laboratory testing, and endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography. Potentially curative options include resection and liver transplant with neoadjuvant or adjuvant chemoradiation. Chemotherapy, radiation, and locoregional therapy provide some survival benefit in unresectable disease.

The Diagnostic Dilemma of Malignant Biliary Strictures

The differential diagnosis for biliary strictures is broad. However, the likelihood of malignancy is high. Determining the etiology of a biliary stricture requires a comprehensive physical exam, laboratory evaluation, imaging, and ultimately tissue acquisition. Even then, definitive diagnosis is elusive, and many strictures remain indeterminant in origin. This literary review examines the diagnostic dilemma of biliary strictures and presents innovations in both histochemical and endoscopic techniques that have increased the diagnostic power of differentiating benign and malignant strictures. The field of tissue biopsy is revolutionizing with the advent of free DNA mutation profiling, fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH), and methionyl t-RNA synthetase 1 (MARS 1), which allow for greater testing sensitivity. Endoscopic ultrasound, endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP), cholangioscopy, confocal laser endomicroscopy, and intraductal ultrasound build upon existing endoscopic technology to better characterize strictures that would otherwise be indeterminate in etiology. This review uses recent literature to insert innovative technology into the traditional framework of diagnostic methods for malignant biliary strictures.

Cholangioscopy Biopsies Improve Detection of Cholangiocarcinoma When Combined with Cytology and FISH, but Not in Patients with PSC

BACKGROUND AND AIMS

Single-operator cholangioscopy (SOC) has been suggested to be a cost-effective strategy for the detection of cholangiocarcinoma (CCA). The aim of this study is to compare the performance characteristics of SOC-guided biopsies and transpapillary biopsies with standard sampling techniques for the detection of CCA.

METHODS

A retrospective cohort study of patients undergoing SOC between 1/2007 and 10/2018 at a single academic center was performed. Demographic, procedural, and outcomes data were recorded and analyzed using STATA 14.0. Sensitivity comparison between diagnostic tests was performed using exact McNemar test exclusively among patients with CCA. Two-sided p value < 0.05 was considered statistically significant.

RESULTS

Ninety-two patients were included; 36 (39.1%) with primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC), 41 (44.6%) with CCA, and median follow-up was 15.1 months. In the overall cohort, brush cytology demonstrated a sensitivity of 44.7% and increased with the addition of FISH (56.8%; p = 0.12), FISH with SOC-guided biopsy (71.4%; p = 0.03), and FISH with transpapillary biopsy (64.5%; p = 0.01). However, in patients with PSC, there was no significant improvement in sensitivity with the addition of SOC-guided biopsy or transpapillary biopsy in addition to FISH when compared to brush cytology. There was no difference in the rates of overall adverse events (14% vs. 23.2%; p = 0.27) or infection (3% vs. 4%; p = 0.83) in patients with and without PSC.

CONCLUSIONS

SOC-guided and transpapillary biopsies improve sensitivity for the detection of cholangiocarcinoma in combination with other ERCP-based techniques compared to brush cytology alone. However, while safe, these modalities do not significantly improve the sensitivity for the detection of malignancy in PSC patients.

Percutaneous transhepatic cholangiography versus endoscopic retrograde cholangiography for the pathological diagnosis of suspected malignant bile duct strictures

To compare the diagnostic performance of percutaneous transhepatic cholangiography and endoscopic retrograde cholangiography for the pathological assessment of suspected malignant bile duct stricture, using brush cytology and forceps biopsy.The study group comprised 79 consecutive patients who underwent pathological assessment for suspected malignant biliary stricture, 38 of whom underwent percutaneous transhepatic cholangiography (group A) and the other 41 underwent endoscopic retrograde cholangiography (group B). The sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, negative predictive value, and accuracy were calculated. A subset analysis was performed to determine the effect of location and pathological type of the stricture on diagnostic performance, and complications were analyzed.The sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, negative predictive value, and accuracy were 86.7%, 100%, 100%, 66.7%, and 89.5%, respectively, in group A, and 77.1%, 100%, 100%, 42.9%, and 80.4%, respectively, in group B. For hilar biliary strictures, the sensitivity and accuracy were superior in group A than in group B. Mild complications (transient c and bile leakage) were identified in 7 cases in each group, all resolved spontaneously within 3 to 5 days.Both brush cytology and forceps biopsy performed during percutaneous transhepatic cholangiography and endoscopic retrograde cholangiography provided good diagnostic sensitivity and accuracy. Therefore, both diagnostic approaches can play an important role in planning therapeutic strategy. However, for strictures located at the hilum, pathology sampling via percutaneous transhepatic cholangiography is preferable to endoscopic retrograde cholangiography, as it provides higher sensitivity and accuracy.

Integrating next-generation sequencing to endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP)-obtained biliary specimens improves the detection and management of patients with malignant bile duct strictures

OBJECTIVE

Despite improvements in imaging, serum CA19-9 and pathological evaluation, differentiating between benign and malignant bile duct strictures remains a diagnostic conundrum. Recent developments in next-generation sequencing (NGS) have opened new opportunities for early detection and management of cancers but, to date, have not been rigorously applied to biliary specimens.

DESIGN

We prospectively evaluated a 28-gene NGS panel (BiliSeq) using endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography-obtained biliary specimens from patients with bile duct strictures. The diagnostic performance of serum CA19-9, pathological evaluation and BiliSeq was assessed on 252 patients (57 trainings and 195 validations) with 346 biliary specimens.

RESULTS

The sensitivity and specificity of BiliSeq for malignant strictures was 73% and 100%, respectively. In comparison, an elevated serum CA19-9 and pathological evaluation had sensitivities of 76% and 48%, and specificities of 69% and 99%, respectively. The combination of BiliSeq and pathological evaluation increased the sensitivity to 83% and maintained a specificity of 99%. BiliSeq improved the sensitivity of pathological evaluation for malignancy from 35% to 77% for biliary brushings and from 52% to 83% for biliary biopsies. Among patients with primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC), BiliSeq had an 83% sensitivity as compared with pathological evaluation with an 8% sensitivity. Therapeutically relevant genomic alterations were identified in 20 (8%) patients. Two patients with ERBB2-amplified cholangiocarcinoma received a trastuzumab-based regimen and had measurable clinicoradiographic response.

CONCLUSIONS

The combination of BiliSeq and pathological evaluation of biliary specimens increased the detection of malignant strictures, particularly in patients with PSC. Additionally, BiliSeq identified alterations that may stratify patients for specific anticancer therapies.

Endoscopic Ultrasound-Guided Fine Needle Aspiration and Endoscopic Retrograde Cholangiopancreatography-Based Tissue Sampling in Suspected Malignant Biliary Strictures: A Meta-Analysis of Same-Session Procedures

Background/Aims:

The diagnosis of biliary strictures can be challenging. There are no systematic reviews studying same-session endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP)-based tissue sampling and endoscopic ultrasound-guided fine needle aspiration (EUS-FNA) for the diagnosis of biliary strictures.

Methods:

A systematic review was conducted on studies analyzing same-session EUS and ERCP for tissue diagnosis of suspected malignant biliary strictures. The primary outcome was the accuracy of each method individually compared to the two methods combined. The secondary outcome was the accuracy of each method in pancreatic and biliary etiologies. In the meta-analysis, we used Forest plots, summary receiver operating characteristic curves, and estimates of the area under the curve for intention-to-treat analysis.

Results:

Of the 12,132 articles identified, six were included, resulting in a total of 497 patients analyzed. The sensitivity, specificity, positive likelihood ratio, negative likelihood ratio, and accuracy of the association between the two methods were: 86%, 98%, 12.50, 0.17, and 96.5%, respectively. For the individual analysis, the sensitivity, specificity and accuracy of EUS-FNA were 76%, 100%, and 94.5%, respectively; for ERCP-based tissue sampling, the sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy were 58%, 98%, and 78.1%, respectively. For pancreatic lesions, EUS-FNA was superior to ERCP-based tissue sampling. However, for biliary lesions, both methods had similar sensitivities.

Conclusions:

Same-session EUS-FNA and ERCP-based tissue sampling is superior to either method alone in the diagnosis of suspected malignant biliary strictures. Considering these results, combination sampling should be performed when possible.

The ideal technique for processing SpyBite tissue specimens: a prospective, single-blinded, pilot-study of histology and cytology techniques

Background and study aims  Diagnostic sensitivity for indeterminate biliary lesions remains suboptimal. Cytology techniques may mitigate the impediment of small cholangioscopic specimens. Our primary aim was to compare cell block cytology (CB) with standard histology for foregut SpyBite (SB) specimens. Our secondary aim was to assess CB in biliary SB biopsies. Patients and methods  This was a two-phase prospective pilot study. In phase one, a prospective pilot study, foregut SB specimens from three sites (4 per site per patient per processing technique) were allocated to CB or histology, and assessed by a single, blinded pathologist. The gold standard comprised two standard forceps (CFB) histological specimens per site per patient. Specimen ease of processing, size and number, adequacy for diagnosis and artefact were evaluated. In phase two, CB was used for consecutive patients with indeterminate biliary lesions, and compared with phase one CB results. Results  In phase one, 240 SB foregut biopsies were performed in 10 patients, 227 specimens recorded by pathologist. Specimen origin was identified in 100 % and 97 % of histology and CB batches respectively. Specimens were significantly larger in the histology group (2.02 mm vs 1.49 mm, P  < 0.05). There was a trend to less crush artifact with CB, and no difference in processing difficulty. In phase two, 11 patients (63.0 ±12.7 years, 91 % female) underwent SpyGlass (SG) assessment of suspected indeterminate stricture (n = 8) or mass (n = 3), and six underwent SB. All CB specimens were adequate for diagnosis. Specimen parameters were not significantly different from luminal CB outcomes. Conclusions  In this pilot study, cell block cytology showed similar results as histological analysis of SpyBite specimens in the analysis of biliary stricture.

Unravelling the Diagnostic Dilemma: A MicroRNA Panel of Circulating MiR-16 and MiR-877 as A Diagnostic Classifier for Distal Bile Duct Tumors

Accurate diagnosis of pancreatic head lesions remains challenging as no minimally invasive biomarkers are available to discriminate distal cholangiocarcinoma (CCA) from pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC). The aim of this study is to identify specific circulating microRNAs (miRNAs) to diagnose distal CCA. In the discovery phase, PCR profiling of 752 miRNAs was performed on fourteen patients with distal CCA and age- and sex-matched healthy controls. Candidate miRNAs were selected for evaluation and validation by RT-qPCR in an independent cohort of distal CCA (N = 24), healthy controls (N = 32), benign diseases (N = 20), and PDAC (N = 24). The optimal diagnostic combination of miRNAs was determined by multivariate logistic regression analysis and evaluated by ROC curves with AUC values. The discovery phase revealed 19 significantly dysregulated miRNAs, of which six were validated in the evaluation phase. The validation phase confirmed downregulated miR-16 in patients with distal CCA compared to benign disease or PDAC (P = 0.048 and P = 0.012), while miR-877 was significantly upregulated (P = 0.003 and P = 0.006). This two-miRNA panel was validated as a CCA-specific profile, discriminating distal CCA from benign disease (AUC = 0.90) and from PDAC (AUC = 0.88). In conclusion, the present study identified a two-miRNA panel of downregulated miR-16 and upregulated miR-877 with promising capability to diagnose patients with distal CCA.

Practical Management of Indeterminate Biliary Strictures

Indeterminate biliary strictures pose a diagnostic and therapeutic challenge. Although underlying malignancy is a primary concern, biliary strictures may result from benign processes. An accurate diagnosis is paramount to define the treatment strategy and minimize morbidity. The limitations of traditional endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography-based tissue acquisition with cytology brushings are well-documented. Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography is generally unable to determine a stricture's etiology. Complementary advanced endoscopic imaging and multimodal tissue acquisition have evolved. Careful consideration of the clinical presentation, location of the stricture, and interpretation of imaging constitute the most optimal approach for diagnosis and management.

Endoscopic Ultrasonography-Guided Fine Needle Aspiration for Extrahepatic Cholangiocarcinoma: A Safe Tissue Sampling Modality

Few studies have compared the diagnostic utility of endoscopic ultrasonography-guided fine needle aspiration (EUS-FNA) and endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) tissue sampling for extrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (ECC). We evaluated the efficacy and safety of EUS-FNA for diagnosing ECC compared with ERCP tissue sampling. Patients who underwent EUS-FNA or ERCP tissue sampling to differentiate ECC from benign biliary disease were enrolled retrospectively between October 2011 and March 2017. We evaluated diagnostic performances of EUS-FNA and ERCP tissue sampling based on pathological evaluation. We compared adverse events in EUS-FNA and ERCP tissue sampling. We enrolled 73 patients with biliary disease and performed EUS-FNA and ERCP in 19 and 54 patients, respectively. Sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy of ERCP tissue sampling were 76.0%, 100%, and 88.9%, respectively, and for EUS-FNA these were 81.8%, 87.5%, and 84.2%, respectively. Statistical values of ERCP tissue sampling and EUS-FNA were not significantly different. The adverse event frequency of EUS-FNA was significantly lower than that of ERCP tissue sampling (0% vs. 25.9%, p = 0.033). The diagnostic ability of EUS-FNA for ECC is similar to that of ERCP tissue sampling. EUS-FNA is a safer tissue sampling modality than ERCP for evaluating biliary disease.

Novel triple lumen catheter for ERCP tissue diagnosis

INTRODUCTION

 The ideal endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) tissue sampling technique should be simple, inexpensive, and yield sufficient tissue for histology while permitting contrast-guided targeting under fluorescence and multiple passes into the bile duct. Current techniques do not fulfill these requirements comprehensively. We designed a catheter for optimized targeting of large intrabiliary biopsies.

METHODS

 A 3.5-mm sterile, single-use prototype catheter was developed, with three independent lumina extending continuously to the distal tip for three distinct functions to be available simultaneously: passage of large volume biopsy forceps (1.8 mm), wire guidance (0.035″), and contrast injection.

RESULTS

 First clinical use in five patients (four transpapillary, one percutaneous access) allowed good intrabiliary manipulation in 4/5 patients. Contrast-guided sampling provided adequate specimens. No adverse events were noted.

DISCUSSION

 Technical aspects and preliminary clinical data for the novel triple lumen biopsy catheter are encouraging. The catheter allowed wire guidance and contrast application to guide sampling of larger pieces of tissue. In perspective, the working channel could host any accessory for targeted intrabiliary diagnosis and therapy, and catheter use is not limited to bile ducts.

EUS-FNA versus ERCP for tissue diagnosis of suspect malignant biliary strictures: a prospective comparative study

BACKGROUND AND STUDY AIMS

 Biliary strictures are frequently a challenging clinical scenario and the anatomopathological diagnosis is essential in the therapeutic management, whether for curative or palliative purposes. The acquisition of specimens is necessary since many benign diseases mimic biliopancreatic neoplasms. Endscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) is the traditionally used method despite the low sensitivity of biliary brush cytology and forceps biopsy. On the other hand, several studies reported good accuracy rates using endoscopic ultrasound-guided fine-needle aspiration (EUS-FNA). The aim of this prospective study was to compare, the accuracy of EUS-FNA and ERCP for tissue sampling of biliary strictures.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

 After performing the sample size calculation, 50 consecutive patients with indeterminate biliary strictures were included to undergo ERCP and EUS on the same sedation.The gold-standard was surgery or 6 months' follow-up. Evaluation of the diagnostic indices (sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive value, positive and negative likelihood ratio), concordance and adverse events among the methods were performed. Also, subtype analyses of the techniques, anatomical localization and size of the lesion were included.

RESULTS

 The final diagnoses reported in 50 patients were 47 malignant, 1 suspicious and 2 benign lesions. 31 lesions were extraductal and 19 intraductal, 35 were distal and 15 proximal strictures. In the intention-to-treat analysis, the sensitivity and accuracy of EUS-FNA were superior than ERCP tissue sampling (93,8 %, 94 % vs. 60,4 %, 62 %, respectively) ( P  = 0.034), with similar adverse events. There was no concordance between the methods and combining both methods improved the sensitivity and accuracy for 97.9 % and 98 %, respectively. In the subtype analyses, the EUS-FNA was superior, with a higher accuracy than ERCP tissue sampling in evaluating extraductal lesions (100 % vs. 54.8 %, P  = 0.019) and in those larger than 1.5 cm (95.8 % vs. 61.9 %, P  = 0.031), but were similar in evaluating intraductal lesions and lesions smaller than 1.5 cm. There was no significant difference between the methods in the analyzes of proximal, distal and pancreatic lesions.

CONCLUSION

 EUS-FNA is better than ERCP with brush cytology and intraductal forceps biopsy in diagnosing malignant biliary strictures, mainly in the assessment of extraductal lesions and in those larger than 1.5 cm. Combining ERCP with tissue sampling and EUS-FNA is feasible, the techniques have similar complication rates, and the combination greatly improves diagnostic accuracy.

Assessing the diagnostic yield of controllable biopsy-forceps for biliary strictures

OBJECTIVE

Biliary forceps biopsies are essential for differentially diagnosing biliary strictures and evaluating the preoperative superficial intraductal spread of bile duct cancers; however, these biopsies are technically demanding and time consuming. Using controllable biopsy-forceps (C-BF), which enable the tip's angle to be adjusted by up to 90°, may facilitate the procedure and improve the diagnostic yield for biliary biopsies. This study aimed to examine the efficacy of C-BF associated with the diagnosis of biliary strictures.

MATERIALS AND METHOD

Between 2009 and 2015, 110 patients with biliary strictures underwent biliary biopsies using C-BF. We retrospectively evaluated the diagnostic yield of C-BF for biliary strictures and determined the success rate associated with obtaining adequate samples during mapping biopsies to evaluate the superficial intraductal tumor spread.

RESULTS

The technical success rate for biliary biopsies using C-BF was 99% (109/110). The sensitivity, specificity and accuracy of the diagnoses of biliary strictures were 60% (46/77), 100% (33/33) and 72% (79/110), respectively. Regarding the mapping biopsy procedures, adequate samples were successfully obtained from 96% (22/23), 92% (11/12), 80% (12/15), 75% (9/12) and 31% (5/16) of the intrapancreatic common bile ducts, upper common bile ducts, confluences of the hepatic ducts, right intrahepatic bile ducts and left intrahepatic bile ducts, respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

C-BF may facilitate biliary cannulation and mapping biopsies of the common bile duct and the right intrahepatic bile duct. However, given that the diagnostic sensitivity was 60%, further modifications are expected and necessary to maximize the utility of the controllable mechanism.