Clinical utility of endoscopic ultrasound-guided tissue acquisition for comprehensive genomic profiling of patients with biliary tract cancer, especially with intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma

Background/Aims

Endoscopic ultrasound-guided tissue acquisition (EUS-TA) is a standard diagnostic method for biliary tract cancer (BTC), and samples obtained in this manner may be used for comprehensive genomic profiling (CGP). This study evaluated the utility of EUS-TA for CGP in a clinical setting and determined the factors associated with the adequacy of CGP in patients with BTC.

Methods

CGP was attempted for 105 samples from 94 patients with BTC at the Aichi Cancer Center, Japan, from October 2019 to April 2022.

Results

Overall, 77.1% (81/105) of the samples were adequate for CGP. For 22-G or 19-G fine-needle biopsy (FNB), the sample adequacy was 85.7% (36/42), which was similar to that of surgical specimens (94%, p=0.45). Univariate analysis revealed that 22-G or larger FNB needle usage (86%, p=0.003), the target primary lesions (88%, p=0.015), a target size ≥30 mm (100%, p=0.0013), and number of punctures (90%, p=0.016) were significantly positively associated with CGP sample adequacy.

Conclusions

EUS-TA is useful for CGP tissue sampling in patients with BTC. In particular, the use of 22-G or larger FNB needles may allow for specimen adequacy comparable to that of surgical specimens.

Factors Influencing the Diagnostic Performance of Repeat Endoscopic Ultrasound-Guided Fine-Needle Aspiration/Biopsy after the First Inconclusive Diagnosis of Pancreatic Solid Lesions

Background/Aims

Endoscopic ultrasound-guided fine-needle aspiration/biopsy (EUS-FNA/B) is essential in diagnosing solid pancreatic lesions (SPLs), but without rapid on-site evaluation (ROSE), a repeat EUS-FNA/B is crucial for clarifying an inconclusive diagnosis. We aimed to evaluate factors associated with improved diagnostic performance of repeat EUS-FNA/B for initially inconclusive SPL diagnoses without ROSE.

Methods

Of 5,894 patients subjected to EUS-FNA/B, 237 (4.0%) with an initially inconclusive diagnosis of SPLs were retrospectively enrolled from five tertiary medical centers between January 2016 and June 2021. Diagnostic performance and procedural factors of EUS-FNA/B were analyzed.

Results

The diagnostic accuracies of first and repeat EUS-FNA/B were 96.2% and 67.6%, respectively. Of 237 patients with an inconclusive diagnosis from initial EUS-FNA/B, 150 were pathologically diagnosed after repeat EUS-FNA/B. In multivariate analysis of repeat EUS-FNA/B, tumor location (body/tail vs head: odds ratio [OR], 3.74; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.48 to 9.46), number of needle passes (≥4 vs ≤3: OR, 4.80; 95% CI, 1.44 to 15.99), needle type (FNB vs FNA: OR, 3.26; 95% CI, 1.44 to 7.36), needle size (22 gauge vs 19/20 gauge: OR, 2.35; 95% CI, 1.19 to 4.62), and suction method (suction vs others: OR, 5.19; 95% CI, 1.30 to 20.75) were associated with a significantly improved diagnostic performance.

Conclusions

Repeat EUS-FNA/B is essential for patients with an inconclusive EUS-FNA/B without ROSE. To improve the diagnostic performance of repeated EUS-FNA/B, it is recommended that 22-gauge FNB needles, ≥4 needle passes, and suction methods are used.

Macroscopic qualitative evaluation of solid pancreatic lesion specimens from endoscopic ultrasound-guided fine needle aspiration/biopsies

OBJECTIVES

To pathologically clarify the macroscopic features of endoscopic ultrasound-guided fine needle aspiration/biopsy (EUS-FNA/B) specimens in representative pancreatic diseases and establish tissue-handling standards based on the macroscopic findings.

METHODS

We gathered EUS-FNA/B specimens of cases at our institution with the final diagnoses of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC, n = 172), neuroendocrine tumor (NET, n = 19), and chronic inflammatory lesion (CIL, n = 24) including autoimmune pancreatitis. We classified the specimens' macroscopic features in five categories (red strings, mixed-red-and-white strings, white cores, gray tissues, gelatinous tissues) and compared the specimens' features on cytological and histological slides.

RESULTS

All five macroscopic categories were observed in variable combinations in the PDACs; red strings and white cores predominated in the NETs and CILs. White cores represented neoplastic (PDAC, NET) or lesion (CIL) tissues. Mixed-red-and-white strings were unique to PDACs and contained cancerous cells. Neoplastic cells were numerous in red strings in NETs but not the other groups. Gray and gelatinous tissues represented necrosis and mucin, respectively, and the former were almost exclusively observed in PDACs. Red strings, mixed-red-and-white strings, and white cores were suitable for histological examination, whereas gray and gelatinous tissues were suitable for cytological examination. The white cores, mixed-red-and-white strings, and gelatinous tissues may be composed of non-neoplastic tissues such as contaminated gastrointestinal epithelium. In seven PDACs, although white cores were obtained, a histological diagnosis was not established.

CONCLUSIONS

Macroscopic evaluations of EUS-FNA/B can enable the identification of specimen components and a possible diagnosis. They also contribute to the selection of the optimal tissue-handling methods.

A Novel Monochromatic Light to Detect Target Specimens Within Endoscopic Ultrasonography-guided Fine-needle Aspiration Biopsy Samples

BACKGROUND/AIM

Endoscopic ultrasonography (EUS)-guided fine-needle aspiration biopsy (EUS-FNB) enhances the diagnostic capabilities of EUS by providing additional pathological samples. However, detecting the target specimens within the collected samples can be challenging. The aim of this study was to determine the optimal wavelength of light for detection of target specimens within EUS-FNB samples in an animal experiment.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

EUS-FNB pancreatic tissue samples were collected from a male beagle (weight, 10 kg), and the samples were illuminated with monochromatic light ranging from 430 to 700 nm in 5-nm intervals. The intensities of the target specimen and blood samples were analyzed using the densitometry of the images obtained through irradiation.

RESULTS

We found that transmitted monochromatic light of 605 nm most vividly enhanced the contrast between the target specimens and blood in the samples in the impression of appearance.

CONCLUSION

Thus, microscopical observations under transmitted light of 605 nm are optimal for target tissue identification within EUS-FNB samples.

Comparison of FNA-based conventional cytology specimens and digital image analysis in assessment of pancreatic lesions

Objectives

Endoscopic ultrasound-guided fine-needle aspiration (EUS-FNA) is one of the most important diagnostic tools for investigation of suspected pancreatic masses, although the interpretation of the results is controversial. In recent decades, digital image analysis (DIA) has been considered in pathology. The aim of this study was to assess the DIA in the evaluation of EUS-FNA based cytopathological specimens of pancreatic masses and comparing it with conventional cytology analysis by pathologist.

Material and Methods

This study was performed using cytological slides related to EUS-FNA samples of pancreatic lesions. The digital images were prepared and then analyzed by ImageJ software. Factors such as perimeter, circularity, area, minimum, maximum, mean, median of gray value, and integrated chromatin density of cell nucleus were extracted by software ImageJ and sensitivity, specificity, and cutoff point were evaluated in the diagnosis of malignant and benign lesions.

Results

In this retrospective study, 115 cytology samples were examined. Each specimen was reviewed by a pathologist and 150 images were prepared from the benign and malignant lesions and then analyzed by ImageJ software and a cut point was established by SPSS 26. The cutoff points for perimeter, integrated density, and the sum of three factors of perimeter, integrated density, and circularity to differentiate between malignant and benign lesions were reported to be 204.56, 131953, and 24643077, respectively. At this cutting point, the accuracy of estimation is based on the factors of perimeter, integrated density, and the sum of the three factors of perimeter, integrated density, and circularity were 92%, 92%, and 94%, respectively.

Conclusion

The results of this study showed that digital analysis of images has a high accuracy in diagnosing malignant and benign lesions in the cytology of EUS-FNA in patients with suspected pancreatic malignancy and by obtaining cutoff points by software output factors; digital imaging can be used to differentiate between benign and malignant pancreatic tumors.

Optimization of endoscopic ultrasound-guided tissue sample acquisition for commercially available comprehensive genome profiling

BACKGROUND AND AIM

Optimal tumor samples are crucial for successful analysis using commercially available comprehensive genomic profiling (CACGP). However, samples acquired by endoscopic ultrasound-guided tissue acquisition (EUS-TA) are occasionally insufficient, and no consensus on the optimal number of needle passes required for CACGP exists. This study aimed to explore the optimal number of needle passes required for EUS-TA to procure an ideal sample fulfilling the prerequisite criteria of CACGPs.

METHODS

Patients who underwent EUS-TA for solid masses between November 2019 and July 2021 were retrospectively studied. The correlation between the acquisition rate of an ideal sample and the number of needle passes mounted on a microscope slide was evaluated. Additionally, the factors predicting a successful analysis were investigated in patients scheduled for CACGP using EUS-TA-obtained samples during the same period.

RESULTS

EUS-TAs using 22- and 19-gauge (G) needles were performed in 336 and 57 patients, respectively. There was a positive correlation between the acquisition rate and the number of passes using a 22-G needle (38.9%, 45.0%, 83.7%, and 100% for 1, 2, 3, and 4 passes, respectively), while no correlation was found with a 19-G needle (84.2%, 83.3%, and 85.0% for 1, 2, and 3 passes, respectively). The analysis success rate in patients with scheduled CACGP was significantly higher with ideal samples than with suboptimal samples (94.1% vs 55.0%, P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONS

The optimal estimated number of needle passes was 4 and 1-2 for 22- and 19-G needles, respectively.

Modified endoscopic submucosal tunnel dissection for large esophageal submucosal gland duct adenoma: A case report

BACKGROUND

With the recent improvement of endoscopic techniques, endoscopic ultrasound-guided fine needle aspiration and endoscopic submucosal tunnel dissection (ESTD) have been widely used for accurate diagnosis and dissection acceleration of esophageal tumors.

CASE SUMMARY

We used a modified submucosal tunnel technique during endoscopic en bloc resection in a 58-year-old man with large esophageal submucosal gland duct adenoma (ESGDA). During modified ESTD, the oral end of the involved mucosa was cut transversely, followed by a submucosal tunnel created from the proximal to the distal end, and the anal end of the involved mucosa blocked by the tumor was incised. As a result of retaining submucosal injection solutions using the submucosal tunnel technique, it was possible to reduce the amount of injection required and increase the efficiency and safety of dissection.

CONCLUSION

Modified ESTD is an effective treatment strategy for large ESGDAs. Single-tunnel ESTD appears to be a time-saving procedure compared with conventional endoscopic submucosal dissection.

Detection value of endoscopic ultrasound-guided 19G fine-needle wet-heparinized suction for pancreatic solid tumors: a randomized controlled trial

Background

Conventional endoscopic ultrasound-guided fine-needle aspiration (EUS-FNA) has some inevitable flaws in the detection of pancreatic solid tumors, such as an incomplete histological structure of the obtained pancreatic biopsy tissues and blood coagulation. Heparin can prevent blood coagulation, thus improving the structural integrity of the specimen. However, whether the combination of EUS-FNA and wet heparin can improve the detection of pancreatic solid tumors needs to be further explored. Hence, this study aimed to compare the EUS-FNA combined with wet heparin and the conventional EUS-FNA, and analyze the detection value of EUS-FNA combined with wet heparin for pancreatic solid tumors.

Methods

The clinical data of 52 patients with pancreatic solid tumors who had received EUS-FNA at the Wuhan Fourth Hospital from August 2019 to April 2021 were selected. Patients were divided into a heparin group and a conventional wet-suction group using a randomized number table. The total length of biopsy tissue strips, total length of white tissue core in pancreatic biopsy lesions [according to macroscopic on-site evaluation (MOSE)], total length of white tissue core in each biopsy tissue, erythrocyte contamination in the paraffin sections, and postoperative complications were compared between the groups. The receiver operating characteristic curve was used to reflect the detection value of EUS-FNA combined with wet heparin for pancreatic solid tumors.

Results

The heparin group had a longer total length of biopsy tissue strips (P<0.05) and total length of white tissue core (P<0.05) than the conventional group. There was a positive correlation between the total length of white tissue core and the total length of biopsy tissue strips in both groups (conventional wet-suction group: r=0.470, P<0.05; heparin group: r=0.433, P<0.05). The heparin group had milder erythrocyte contamination in the paraffin sections (P<0.05). The total length of white tissue core in the heparin group had the highest diagnostic performance, with a Youden index of 0.819 [area under the curve (AUC) =0.944].

Conclusions

Our research shows that wet-heparinized suction improves the quality of pancreatic solid tumor tissue biopsy obtained by 19G fine-needle aspiration and is a safe and efficient aspiration method in conjunction with MOSE for tissue biopsy.

Trial Registration

Chinese Clinical Trial Registry ChiCTR2300069324.

Aortic Wall Abrasion Caused by Needle Injury after Endoscopic Ultrasound-Guided Fine Needle Aspiration of a Mediastinal Hemangioma

Benign mediastinal cysts are challenging to diagnose. Although Endoscopic Ultrasound (EUS) and EUS-guided fine needle aspiration (FNA) can accurately diagnose mediastinal foregut cysts, little is known about their complications. This paper reports a rare case in which EUS-FNA performed on mediastinal hemangioma resulted in an aortic hematoma. A 29-year-old female patient was commissioned for EUS of an asymptomatic accidental mediastinal lesion. Chest CT revealed a 4.9×2.9×10.1 cm thin-walled cystic mass in the posterior mediastinum. EUS revealed a large, anechoic cystic lesion with a regular thin wall with negative Doppler. EUS-guided FNA was performed using a single-use 19-gauge aspiration needle (EZ Shot 3; Olympus, Tokyo, Japan), and approximately 70 cc of serous pinkish fluid was aspirated. The patient was in a stable condition with no signs of acute complication. One day after EUS-FNA, thoracoscopic resection for mediastinal mass was conducted. The purple and multi-loculated large cyst was removed. Upon removal, however, an aortic hematoma caused by a focal descending aortic wall injury was observed. After a few days of close observation, the patient was discharged upon stable 3D aorta angio CT findings. This paper reports a rare and severe complication of EUS-FNA, in which an aspiration needle caused a direct injury to the aorta. The injection must be performed carefully to avoid damaging the adjacent organs or digestive tract walls.

Gastric glomus tumor on EUS-FNA-based cytology: clinicopathologic and immunohistochemical features of 4 cases, including 1 case with associated MIR143HG-NOTCH2 fusion gene

INTRODUCTION

Gastric glomus tumor (GT) is a rare submucosal tumor for which the preoperative diagnosis can be challenging. We report the cytomorphologic and immunohistochemical features of 4 gastric GTs diagnosed by endoscopic ultrasound-guided fine needle aspiration (EUS-FNA) cytology.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Files were searched to identify gastric GTs diagnosed by EUS-FNA between 2018 and 2021. A total of 4 cases of gastric GTs (3 men and 1 women; mean age, 60 years) were included.

RESULTS

Three GTs were located in the gastric antrum and one in the gastric body. Their size ranged from 2 to 2.5 cm. Three patients presented with epigastric discomfort and one with chest wall discomfort. Rapid on-site evaluation was performed for 3 cases; the findings for all 3 were indeterminate. The smears were moderate to highly cellular and showed loose clusters of evenly distributed small- to medium-size bland tumor cells. The tumor cells had centrally located round to oval nuclei with inconspicuous nucleoli and scant to moderate amount of eosinophilic to clear cytoplasm. Examination of the cell blocks revealed branching small vessels surrounded by small- to medium-size cells. The neoplastic cells were positive for smooth muscle actin and synaptophysin and negative for AE1/AE3 and S-100. C-KIT and CD34 were variably positive. Ki-67 was <2% positive. In 1 case, the fusion panel-solid tumor (50 genes) revealed the MIR143HG-NOTCH2 fusion gene.

CONCLUSIONS

Smears and cell block preparation revealed angiocentric sheets of uniform, small round to oval tumor cells with pale to eosinophilic cytoplasm, intermingled with endothelial cells. The differential diagnosis of gastric GTs on rapid on-site evaluation includes neuroendocrine tumors and epithelioid or spindled cell neoplasms. Immunohistochemical and molecular studies can be helpful in the preoperative diagnosis of gastric GT.

Esophageal anthracosis occurred after treatment of esophageal tuberculosis secondary to mediastinal tuberculous lymphadenitis: a rare case report

BACKGROUND

Anthracosis is a disease generally considered to be in the lungs resulting from exposure to industrial dust in the workplace. Esophageal anthracosis is a fairly rare phenomenon and shows a strong correlation with tuberculosis. Moreover, esophageal involvement in tuberculosis is also rare. We here present an extremely rare case in which follow-up gastroesophageal endoscopy revealed a mass with a sunken, black area in the center and raised ring-like pattern in the surrounding mucosa resembling malignant melanoma. Uncovering the patient's tuberculosis history finally avoided a misdiagnosis or overtreatment.

CASE PRESENTATION

A 67-year-old male patient was admitted to the hospital due to "repeated chest pain for 1 month". Endoscopic ultrasonography and contrast-enhanced CT scans revealed a mass adjacent to the esophageal wall with unclear boundaries. Aspiration biopsy confirmed that esophageal tuberculosis was caused by nearby mediastinal tuberculous lymphadenitis. After a standard anti-tuberculosis treatment regimen, the patient achieved a favorable prognosis. The follow-up gastroesophageal endoscopy showed a sunken black lesion with elevated peripheral mucosa replacing the original tuberculous mass, which was thought to be anthracosis, a disease that rarely occurs in the esophagus.

CONCLUSION

The diagnosis of tuberculosis should be taken into consideration when a submucosal mass appears in the middle part of the esophagus. Endoscopic ultrasonography can effectively contribute to a definite diagnosis. Moreover, this is the first case of esophageal anthracosis observed only 1 year after the treatment of tuberculosis, indicating esophageal anthracosis can be a short-term disease. The traction of the reduction of tubercular mediastinal lymph nodes after anti-tuberculosis treatment may create a circumstance for pigmentation or dust deposition.

Current Practice Patterns of Endoscopic Ultrasound-Guided Tissue Sampling for Pancreatic Solid Mass in Korea: Outcomes of a National Survey

Background/Aims

Although endoscopic ultrasound (EUS)-guided fine needle aspiration (FNA) and fine needle biopsy (FNB) are widely used for tissue acquisition of pancreatic solid mass, the optimal strategy of this procedure has not been established yet. The aim of this nationwide study was to investigate the current practice patterns of EUS-FNA/FNB for pancreatic solid mass in Korea.

Methods

The Policy-Quality Management of the Korean Pancreatobiliary Association (KPBA) developed a questionnaire containing 22 questions. An electronic survey consisting of the questionnaire was distributed by e-mail to members registered to the KPBA.

Results

A total of 101 respondents completed the survey. Eighty respondents (79.2%) performed preoperative EUS-FNA/FNB for operable pancreatic solid mass. Acquire needles (60.4%) were used the most, followed by ProCore needles (47.5%). In terms of need size, most respondents (>80%) preferred 22-gauge needles regardless of the location of the mass. Negative suction with a 10-mL syringe (71.3%) as sampling technique was followed by stylet slow-pull (41.6%). More than three needle passes for EUS-FNA/FNB was performed by most respondents (>80%). The frequency of requiring repeated procedure was significantly higher in respondents with a low individual volume (<5 per month, p=0.001). Prophylactic antibiotics were routinely used in 39 respondents (38.6%); rapid on-site pathologic evaluation was used in 6.1%.

Conclusions

According to this survey, practices of EUS-FNA/FNB for pancreatic solid mass varied substantially, some of which differed considerably from the recommendations present in existing guidelines. These results suggest that the development of evidence-based quality guidelines fitting Korean clinical practice is needed to establish the optimal strategy for this procedure.

Tissue Quality Comparison Between Heparinized Wet Suction and Dry Suction in Endoscopic Ultrasound-Fine Needle Biopsy of Solid Pancreatic Masses: A Randomized Crossover Study

Background/Aims

A high-quality sample allows for next-generation sequencing and the administration of more tailored precision medicine treatments. We aimed to evaluate whether heparinized wet suction can obtain higher quality samples than the standard dry-suction method during endoscopic ultrasound (EUS)-guided biopsy of pancreatic masses.

Methods

A prospective randomized crossover study was conducted. Patients with a solid pancreatic mass were randomly allocated to receive either heparinized wet suction first or dry suction first. For each method, two needle passes were made, followed by a switch to the other method for a total of four needle punctures. The primary outcome was the aggregated white tissue length. Histological blood contamination, diagnostic performance and adverse events were analyzed as secondary outcomes. In addition, the correlation between white tissue length and the extracted DNA amount was analyzed.

Results

A total of 50 patients were enrolled, and 200 specimens were acquired (100 with heparinized wet suction and 100 with dry suction), with one minor bleeding event. The heparinized wet suction approach yielded specimens with longer aggregated white tissue length (11.07 mm vs 7.96 mm, p=0.001) and less blood contamination (p=0.008). A trend towards decreasing tissue quality was observed for the 2nd pass of the dry-suction method, leading to decreased diagnostic sensitivity and accuracy, although the accumulated diagnostic performance was comparable between the two suction methods. The amount of extracted DNA correlated positively to the white tissue length (p=0.001, Spearman̕s ρ=0.568).

Conclusions

Heparinized wet suction for EUS tissue acquisition of solid pancreatic masses can yield longer, bloodless, DNA-rich tissue without increasing the incidence of adverse events (ClinicalTrials.gov. identifier NCT04707560).

EUS-guided fine needle biopsy is able to provide diagnosis in rare osteoclast-like giant cells undifferentiated carcinoma of the pancreas: Report of two cases

Undifferentiated carcinoma of the pancreas with osteoclast-like giant cells (UC-OGC) is a rare subtype of pancreatic cancer, accounting for less than 1% of all pancreatic tumors. Preoperative diagnosis is cumbersome as cross-sectional imaging is often not capable to distinguish between UCOGC and other pancreatic tumors such as pancreatic adenocarcinoma, mucinous carcinoma or neuroendocrine tumors and specific tumor markers seem to be lacking. Endoscopic ultrasound r `m(EUS) with tissue acquisition via fine-needle aspiration (FNA) or biopsy (FNB) with microscopic HE staining and immunohistochemistry allows for an accurate diagnosis, thus influencing further treatment. We present herein the cases of two patients with osteoclast-like giant cells tumors of the pancreas diagnosed by EUS-guided fine needle biopsy and perform a literature review on the role of EUS-guided biopsy for diagnosis.

Clinical utility of endoscopic ultrasound-guided tissue acquisition for comprehensive genomic profiling of pancreatic cancer

Background/Aims

Endoscopic ultrasound-guided tissue acquisition (EUS-TA) is essential for the diagnosis of pancreatic cancer. The feasibility of comprehensive genomic profiling (CGP) using samples obtained by EUS-TA has been under recent discussion. This study aimed to evaluate the utility of EUS-TA for CGP in a clinical setting.

Methods

CGP was attempted in 178 samples obtained from 151 consecutive patients with pancreatic cancer at the Aichi Cancer Center between October 2019 and September 2021. We evaluated the adequacy of the samples for CGP and determined the factors associated with the adequacy of the samples obtained by EUS-TA retrospectively.

Results

The overall adequacy for CGP was 65.2% (116/178), which was significantly different among the four sampling methods (EUS-TA vs. surgical specimen vs. percutaneous biopsy vs. duodenal biopsy, 56.0% [61/109] vs. 80.4% [41/51] vs. 76.5% [13/17] vs. 100.0% [1/1], respectively; p=0.022). In a univariate analysis, needle gauge/type was associated with adequacy (22 G fine-needle aspiration vs. 22 G fine-needle biopsy [FNB] vs. 19 G-FNB, 33.3% (5/15) vs. 53.5% (23/43) vs. 72.5% (29/40); p=0.022). The sample adequacy of 19 G-FNB for CGP was 72.5% (29/40), and there was no significant difference between 19 G-FNB and surgical specimens (p=0.375).

Conclusions

To obtain adequate samples for CGP with EUS-TA, 19 G-FNB was shown to be the best in clinical practice. However, 19 G-FNB was not still sufficient, so further efforts are required to improve adequacy for CGP.

Diagnosis of Bowel Endometriosis Using Endoscopic Ultrasound-guided Fine Needle Aspiration

Endometriosis is a relatively common gynecological condition in women of reproductive age. The rectosigmoid region is the most commonly affected segment when the gastrointestinal tract is involved. A differential diagnosis of colorectal neoplasia is difficult because of the similar clinical, endoscopic, and radiology findings. A 42-year-old female presented with abdominal distention and was subsequently diagnosed with a large bowel obstruction in the rectum. A temporary colostomy was performed, and endoscopy revealed a rectal mass obstructing the rectum. The biopsy showed normal mucosa, and it was difficult to exclude rectal malignancies even after the imaging workup. Endoscopic ultrasound demonstrated a hypoechoic lesion below the rectal mucosa, and fine needle aspiration confirmed the diagnosis of bowel endometriosis. Bowel endometriosis is a challenging diagnosis. Endoscopic ultrasound- guided fine-needle aspiration is useful for acquiring adequate samples for histological confirmation and a definitive diagnosis of bowel endometriosis.

Utility of forward-view endoscopic ultrasound in fine-needle aspiration in patients with a surgically altered upper gastrointestinal anatomy

Background/Aims

Endoscopic ultrasound (EUS)-guided fine-needle aspiration (FNA) using oblique-view EUS in patients with a surgically altered anatomy (SAA) of the upper gastrointestinal tract is limited because of difficult scope insertion due to the disturbed anatomy. This study aimed to investigate the efficiency of forward-view (FV)-EUS in performing FNA in patients with an SAA.

Methods

We retrospectively investigated 32 patients with an SAA of the upper gastrointestinal tract who visited Aichi Cancer Center Hospital in Nagoya, Japan, between January 2014 and December 2020. We performed trans-upper gastrointestinal EUS-FNA using FV-EUS combined with fluoroscopic imaging to confirm tumor recurrence or to make a decision before chemotherapy or after a failure of diagnosis by radiology.

Results

We successfully performed EUS-FNA in all studied patients (100% technical success), with specificity, sensitivity, and accuracy of 100%, 87.5%, and 87.8%, respectively, with no complications.

Conclusions

EUS-FNA using FV-EUS combined with fluoroscopic imaging is an effective and safe technique for tissue acquisition in patients with an SAA.

Role of interventional endoscopic ultrasound in a developing country

BACKGROUND/AIMS

Endoscopic ultrasound (EUS) has become an essential diagnostic and therapeutic tool. EUS was introduced in 2013 in Indonesia and is considered relatively new. This study aimed to describe the current role of interventional EUS at our hospital as a part of the Indonesian tertiary health center experience.

METHODS

This retrospective study included all patients who underwent interventional EUS (n=94) at our center between January 2015 and December 2020. Patient characteristics, technical success, clinical success, and adverse events associated with each type of interventional EUS procedure were evaluated.

RESULTS

Altogether, 94 interventional EUS procedures were performed at our center between 2015 and 2020 including 75 cases of EUS-guided biliary drainage (EUS-BD), 14 cases of EUS-guided pancreatic fluid drainage, and five cases of EUS-guided celiac plexus neurolysis. The technical and clinical success rates of EUS-BD were 98.6% and 52%, respectively. The technical success rate was 100% for both EUS-guided pancreatic fluid drainage and EUS-guided celiac plexus neurolysis. The adverse event rates were 10.6% and 7.1% for EUS-BD and EUS-guided pancreatic fluid drainage, respectively.

CONCLUSION

EUS is an effective and safe tool for the treatment of gastrointestinal and biliary diseases. It has a low rate of adverse events, even in developing countries.

[The role of endoscopy in exploration of the mediastinum, indications and results]

Since 2005, endobronchial ultrasound-guided transbronchial needle aspiration (EBUS-TBNA) has emerged as a standard pulmonological tool. The procedure is safe and well tolerated by patients, with minimal morbidity and almost no mortality. A previous review on the technique was published in 2012. However, over the last ten years, a number of new studies have been published on "benign" (sarcoidosis, tuberculosis…) as well as "malignant" diseases (lung cancer, metastases of extra-thoracic cancers, search for mutations and specific oncogenic markers…). These developments have led to expanded indications for EBUS-TBNA, with which it is indispensable to be familiar, in terms of "staging" as well as "diagnosis". In view of optimizing lymph node sampling, several publications have described and discussed EBUS exploration by means of newly available tools (biopsy forceps, larger needles…), and proposed interpretation of the images thereby produced. Given the ongoing evolution of linear EBUS, it seemed indispensable that information on this marvelous tool be updated. This review is aimed at summarizing the novel elements we have found the most important.

Endoscopic ultrasound-guided pancreas biopsy in the hands of a chest physician

This is the first paper to report sampling of pancreatic lesions by EUS-B-FNA. A 76 year old patient suspected of primary lung cancer presented with a 36 × 24 mm lesion in the pancreas. Thoracentesis showed malignant cells suggestive of mucinous adenocarcinoma, but immunohistochemistry was inconclusive. Due to rapid deterioration of performance status of this frail patient, the program was shortened to EUS-B-FNA of the pancreatic lesion, which showed mucinous adenocarcinoma suggestive of primary pancreatic cancer. We conclude that EUS-B-FNA from a pancreatic lesion in the hands of a chest physician is feasible and diagnostic of a tumor in pancreas.

Interobserver Agreement among Cytopathologists in False-Negative Cases by Cytological Diagnosis with Endoscopic Ultrasound-Guided Fine Needle Aspiration in Solid Pancreatic Lesions

INTRODUCTION

Early detection and accurate pathological assessment are critical to improving prognosis of pancreatic cancer. EUS has been widely used in diagnosing pancreatic lesions and can obtain histological diagnosis by endoscopic ultrasound-guided fine needle aspiration (EUS-FNA). However, comprehensive assessment of the interobserver agreement (IOA) among cytopathologists evaluating EUS-FNA specimens is still limited. Therefore, this study evaluated IOA among cytopathologists for EUS-FNA specimens of solid pancreatic lesions, especially in false-negative cases of cytological diagnosis and analyzed the factors that influence cytological diagnosis of EUS-FNA so as to improve the diagnostic efficiency of EUS-FNA.

METHODS

We retrieved EUS-FNA samples of pancreatic solid lesions from 2017 to 2021 and collected their clinical/cytological data. Two cytopathologists independently reviewed these cases using a quoted, novel standardized cytology scoring tool. Ultimately, we calculated IOA among cytopathologists and performed a binary logistic regression analysis to evaluate factors influencing the cytological diagnosis of EUS-FNA.

RESULTS

161 patients were included, and 60 cases with a clinical diagnosis of pancreatic cancer but a cytological diagnosis of benign and atypical constituted the false-negative group. IOAs for cytological diagnosis of overall patients and the false-negative group were in perfect/moderate agreement with Kendall's W values of 0.896 and 0.462, respectively. The number of diagnostic cells in the scoring tool had the highest level of agreement (κ = 0.721) for overall patients. There was at best moderate agreement on other quantity and quality parameters for both all cases and false-negative group. Logistic regression analysis showed the number of diagnostic cells (OR = 6.110, p < 0.05) and amount of blood (OR = 0.320, p < 0.05) could influence cytological diagnosis.

CONCLUSIONS

The false-negative rate of our study as high as 37.26% (60/161) is mainly related to strict standards of cytopathologists, and their ability to standardize pancreatic cytology is still improving. Suboptimal agreement among cytopathologists for cytological diagnosis and the number of diagnostic cells may be associated with the occurrence of false-negative diagnosis. Further regression analysis confirmed that the number of diagnostic cells and obscuring blood were important factors in cytological diagnosis. Therefore, refinement of cytological diagnostic criteria, standardization of specimen quality evaluation, and training of cytopathologists may improve the agreement of cytopathologists, thus improving the repeatability of cytological diagnosis and reducing the occurrence of false-negative events.

Gastric linitis plastica with autoimmune pancreatitis diagnosed by an endoscopic ultrasonography-guided fine-needle biopsy: A case report

BACKGROUND

Gastric linitis plastica (GLP) is a subset of gastric cancer with a poor prognosis. It is difficult to obtain a definitive diagnosis by endoscopic mucosal biopsies, and the usefulness of an endoscopic ultrasonography-guided fine-needle biopsy (EUS-FNB) for GLP has been recently reported. Meanwhile, autoimmune diseases are occasionally known to coexist with malignant tumors as paraneoplastic syndrome. We herein report the usefulness of an EUS-FNB for detecting GLP and the possibility of paraneoplastic syndrome coexisting with GLP.

CASE SUMMARY

An 81-year-old man was admitted to our hospital for a 1-mo history of epigastric pain that increased after eating. His laboratory data revealed high levels of serum carbohydrate antigen 19-9 and immunoglobulin-G4. Endoscopic examinations showed giant gastric folds and reddish mucosa; however, no epithelial changes were observed. The gastric lumen was not distensible by air inflation, suggesting GLP. Computed tomography showed the thickened gastric wall, the diffuse enlargement of the pancreas, and the peripancreatic rim, which suggested autoimmune pancreatitis (AIP) coexisting with GLP. Because the pathological findings of the endoscopic biopsy showed no malignancy, he underwent an EUS-FNB and was diagnosed with GLP. He received chemotherapy for unresectable gastric cancer due to peritoneal metastasis, after which both the gastric wall thickening and diffuse enlargement of the pancreas were improved.

CONCLUSION

An EUS-FNB for GLP with a negative endoscopic biopsy is useful, and AIP may develop as a paraneoplastic syndrome.

The impact of preoperative EUS-FNA for distal resectable pancreatic cancer: Is it really effective enough to take risks?

BACKGROUND AND AIMS

Endoscopic ultrasound-guided fine needle aspiration (EUS-FNA) is frequently used for the preoperative histologic diagnosis of pancreatic cancer. However, debate continues regarding the clinical merits of preoperative EUS-FNA for the management of resectable pancreatic cancer. We aimed to evaluate the benefits and safety of preoperative EUS-FNA for resectable distal pancreatic cancer.

METHODS

The medical records of 304 consecutive patients with suspected distal pancreatic cancer who underwent EUS-FNA were retrospectively reviewed to evaluate the clinical benefits of preoperative EUS-FNA. We also reviewed the medical records of 528 patients diagnosed with distal pancreatic cancer who underwent distal pancreatectomy with or without EUS-FNA. The recurrence rates and cancer-free survival periods of patients who did or did not undergo preoperative EUS-FNA were compared.

RESULTS

The diagnostic accuracy of preoperative EUS-FNA was high (sensitivity, 87.5%; specificity, 100%; positive predictive value 100%; accuracy, 90.7%; negative predictive value, 73.8%). Among patients, 26.7% (79/304) avoided surgery based on the preoperative EUS-FNA findings. Of the 528 patients who underwent distal pancreatectomy, 193 patients received EUS-FNA and 335 did not. During follow-up (median 21.7 months), the recurrence rate was similar in the two groups (EUS-FNA, 72.7%; non-EUS-FNA, 75%; P = 0.58). The median cancer-free survival was also similar (P = 0.58); however, gastric wall recurrence was only encountered in the patients with EUS-FNA (n = 2).

CONCLUSION

Preoperative EUS-FNA is not associated with increased risks of cancer-specific or overall survival. However, clinicians must consider the potential risks of needle tract seeding, and care should be taken when selecting patients.

Optimal indication of endoscopic retrograde pancreatography-based cytology in the preoperative pathological diagnosis of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma

BACKGROUND

Endoscopic ultrasound-guided fine needle aspiration (EUS-FNA) is extremely useful for pathological diagnosis of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC); however, puncturing is difficult in some cases, and there is a risk of needle tract seeding. This study evaluated the indications for endoscopic retrograde pancreatography-based (ERP)-based cytology for the preoperative diagnosis of PDAC.

METHODS

This study included 267 patients with PDAC who underwent preoperative ERP. The diagnostic performance of ERP-based cytology for PDAC was evaluated based on the sample collection method (pancreatic juice cytology [PJC] during ERP, brush cytology, PJC via endoscopic nasopancreatic drainage [ENPD] catheter), lesion site (pancreatic head, body/tail), and lesion size (≤10 mm, 10-20 mm, >20 mm), and compared with the diagnostic performance of EUS-FNA.

RESULTS

The overall sensitivity of ERP-based cytology was 54.9%; sensitivity by the sampling method was 34.7% for PJC during ERP, 65.8% for brush cytology, and 30.8% for PJC via an ENPD catheter. The sensitivity of EUS-FNA was 85.3%. Brush cytology and PJC via an ENPD catheter were performed more often in pancreatic body/tail lesions than in head lesions (P = 0.016 and P < 0.001, respectively), and the overall sensitivity of ERP-based cytology was better for body/tail lesions (63.2% vs. 49.0%, P = 0.025). The sensitivities of ERP-based cytology and EUS-FNA in diagnosing PDAC ≤10 mm were 92.3% and 33.3%, respectively. Post-ERP pancreatitis was observed in 22 patients (8.2%) and significantly less common with ENPD catheters (P = 0.002).

CONCLUSIONS

ERP-based cytology may be considered the first choice for pathological diagnosis of PDAC ≤10 mm and in the pancreatic body/tail.

Multicenter prospective study of the efficacy of stereomicroscopic on-site evaluation in endoscopic ultrasound-guided tissue acquisition in patients with pancreatic cancer

OBJECTIVE

In sample isolation processing by stereomicroscopy (SIPS), a technique used to assess the quality of specimens collected during endoscopic ultrasound (EUS)-guided tissue acquisition (EUS-TA), the cutoff value of stereomicroscopically visible white core (SVWC) (≥11 mm) indicates high diagnostic sensitivity. However, the procedure of SIPS is complicated and time-consuming. Therefore, we devised the stereomicroscopic on-site evaluation (SOSE), a new rapid assessment method that is simpler than SIPS and only determines if the SVWC cutoff value is attained. We aimed to examine the usefulness of SOSE in a multicenter, prospective setting.

METHODS

Seventy patients from multiple institutions with solid pancreatic masses suspected to be pancreatic cancer were included. EUS-TA was performed using a 22-gauge Franseen needle. SVWCs were measured on-site using stereomicroscopy. The primary outcome was the sensitivity of SVWC cutoff value in EUS-TA with SOSE.

RESULTS

The total number of punctures was 214 and SOSE was performed on 150 punctures. The SVWC cutoff value collection rate was 100% per lesion, with 80% in the first pass, 79% in the second pass, and 78% per puncture in all passes. The median time taken to determine the SVWC cutoff value for SOSE was 47 s. The sensitivity of the SVWC cutoff value was 93.2% for histology and 96.6% for cytology + histology. The per-lesion accuracy of pathological diagnosis reached the highest level (98.6%) at the second puncture.

CONCLUSIONS

SOSE showed high diagnostic sensitivity and may be a new rapid assessment method for the diagnosis of malignant pancreatic cancer using EUS-TA.

A Promising Diagnostic Role of Immunohistochemical Expression of Insulin-Like Growth Factor II mRNA Binding Protein 3 (IMP3) in Pancreatic Lesions Using Endoscopic Ultrasound-Guided Fine Needle Aspiration (EUS-FNA) Cytology

BACKGROUND

Poor prognosis and short survival of patients harboring pancreatic cancer emerge how advanced disease it is. In a trial to achieve the earliest and most accurate diagnosis to manage this progressive disease, we proposed that using endoscopic ultrasound-guided fine needle aspiration (EUS-FNA) with an adjuvant diagnostic immunohistochemical marker would give better diagnostic results. IMP3 has gained recently wide attention, as many studies found that IMP3 has not only diagnostic but also prognostic role in different types of malignancies.

AIM OF THE STUDY

This prospective work is to assess the diagnostic role of EUS-FNA combined with the immunohistochemical expression of IMP3 on different benign and malignant pancreatic lesions.

MATERIAL AND METHOD

The included pancreatic lesions (n = 140) were obtained by EUS-FNA technique and stained for IMP3 immunohistochemically. Paraffin blocks from patients who underwent excision (n = 92) or core biopsies (n = 48) were performed for confirming diagnosis.

RESULTS

The combined method for diagnosis showed that IMP3 was positive in 78.7%, 91.7%, 100% PAC, mucinous neoplasm with high grade dysplasia, and IPMN with high grade dysplasia, respectively, while almost all benign lesions showed negative IMP3. Also, this method showed sensitivity (78.26%), specificity (95.83%), and accuracy (84.3%).

CONCLUSION

EUS-FNA cytology with IMP3 could be a reliable diagnostic tool especially for assessment of malignant pancreatic lesions.

Severe mediastinitis and pericarditis after endobronchial ultrasound-guided transbronchial needle aspiration: A case report

BACKGROUND

Endobronchial ultrasound-guided transbronchial needle aspiration (EBUS-TBNA) is a safe and minimally invasive diagnostic tool for mediastinal and hilum evaluation. However, infectious complications may occur after EBUS-TBNA. Among these, mediastinitis and pericarditis are rare.

CASE SUMMARY

A 67-year-old woman was referred to our hospital due to paratracheal lymph node enlargement on chest computed tomography (CT). EBUS-TBNA was performed on the lymph node lesions, and prophylactic oral antibiotics were administered. Seven days after EBUS-TBNA, the patient visited the emergency room with a high fever and chest pain. Laboratory test results revealed leukocytosis with a left shift and elevated C-reactive protein level (25.7 mg/dL). Chest CT revealed the formation of a mediastinal abscess in the right paratracheal lymph node and pericardial and bilateral pleural effusions. The patient received intravenous antibiotic treatment, cardiac drainage through pericardiocentesis, and surgical management. The patient recovered favorably and was discharged 31 d after the operation.

CONCLUSION

Mediastinitis and pericarditis after EBUS-TBNA are rare but should be considered even after the use of prophylactic antibiotics.

Tips and tricks for the diagnosis and management of biliary stenosis-state of the art review

Biliary stenosis may represent a diagnostic and therapeutic challenge resulting in a delay in diagnosis and initiation of therapy due to the frequent difficulty in distinguishing a benign from a malignant stricture. In such cases, the diagnostic flowchart includes the sequential execution of imaging techniques, such as magnetic resonance, magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography, and endoscopic ultrasound, while endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography is performed to collect tissue for histopathological/cytological diagnosis or to treat the stenosis by insertion of stent. The execution of percutaneous transhepatic drainage with subsequent biopsy has been shown to increase the possibility of tissue diagnosis after failure of the above techniques. Although the diagnostic yield of histopathology and imaging has increased with improvements in endoscopic ultrasound and peroral cholangioscopy, differential diagnosis between malignant and benign stenosis may not be easy in some patients, and strictures are classified as indeterminate. In these cases, a multidisciplinary workup including biochemical marker assays and advanced technologies available may speed up a diagnosis of malignancy or avoid unnecessary surgery in the event of a benign stricture. Here, we review recent advancements in the diagnosis and management of biliary strictures and describe tips and tricks to increase diagnostic yields in clinical routine.

Updates in diagnosis and management of pancreatic cysts

Incidental pancreatic cysts are commonly encountered with some cysts having malignant potential. The most common pancreatic cystic neoplasms include serous cystadenoma, mucinous cystic neoplasm and intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasm. Risk stratifying pancreatic cysts is important in deciding whether patients may benefit from endoscopic ultrasound (EUS) or surgical resection. Surgery should be reserved for patients with malignant cysts or cysts at high risk for developing malignancy as suggested by various risk features including solid mass, nodule and dilated main pancreatic duct. EUS may supplement magnetic resonance imaging findings for cysts that remain indeterminate or have concerning features on imaging. Various cyst fluid markers including carcinoembryonic antigen, glucose, amylase, cytology, and DNA markers help distinguish mucinous from nonmucinous cysts. This review will guide the practicing gastroenterologist in how to evaluate incidental pancreatic cysts and when to consider referral for EUS or surgery. For presumed low risk cysts, surveillance strategies will be discussed. Managing pancreatic cysts requires an individualized approach that is directed by the various guidelines.

Analysis of circulating cell-free DNA after endoscopic ultrasound-guided fine needle aspiration in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES

Recently, increase in cell-free DNA (cfDNA) concentration or newly detected KRAS mutation after endoscopic ultrasound-guided fine needle aspiration (EUS-FNA) biopsy were reported to be related to the occurrence of new distant metastasis. In this study, we investigated whether cfDNA concentration increased with the release of tumor components into the blood after EUS-FNA and whether its increase was related to prognosis.

METHODS

Sixty-eight patients underwent EUS-FNA and were pathologically confirmed as having pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC). We measured plasma cfDNA concentration and the copy number of KRAS mutation in 68 patients and circulating tumor cells in 8 before and after EUS-FNA.

RESULTS

The average cfDNA concentration after EUS-FNA (672.5 ± 919.6 ng/mL) was significantly higher than that before EUS-FNA (527.7 ± 827.3 ng/mL) (P < 0.001). KRAS mutation in plasma was detected in 8 patients (11.8%), however a significant increase in cfDNA concentration after EUS-FNA was not related to the change in KRAS-mutant copy number. Minimal increase in circulating tumor cells was observed in 3 of 8 patients. New distant metastasis was observed within 286 days to initial metastasis detection in 6 of 12 patients with ≥2-fold increase in cfDNA concentration and 26 of 56 patients with <2-fold increase within 185 days. In 32 patients who underwent surgery, ≥2-fold increase in cfDNA did not affect early recurrence.

CONCLUSIONS

The increase in cfDNA concentration after EUS-FNA was not caused by tumor cell components released into blood vessels. Hence, the risk of seeding via the blood stream after EUS-FNA may need not be considered.

High Sensitivity of EUS-FNA and EUS-FNB in Lymphadenopathy Caused by Metastatic Disease: A Prospective Comparative Study

Background/Aims

The diagnostic work-up of lymphadenopathy is challenging but important to determine the correct therapy. Nevertheless, few studies have addressed the topic of endosonography (EUS)-guided tissue acquisition in lymphadenopathy. Therefore, we aimed to evaluate the accuracy and safety of EUS-guided fine-needle biopsy sampling (EUS-FNB) in intrathoracic and intraabdominal lymphadenopathy.

Methods

In a tertiary care center, patients with lymphadenopathy referred for EUS-guided sampling were included prospectively from 2014 to 2019 (NCT02360839). In all cases, EUS-FNB (22 gauge) and EUS-guided fine-needle aspiration (EUS-FNA) (25 gauge) were performed. The patients were randomized to the first needle pass with FNB or FNA. Study outcomes were the diagnostic accuracy and adverse event rate.

Results

Forty-eight patients were included (median age: 69 years [interquartile range, 59–76]; 24/48 females [50%]). The final diagnoses were metastasis (n=17), lymphoma (n=11), sarcoidosis (n=6), and inflammatory disease (n=14). The diagnostic performance of the two modalities was comparable, including a high sensitivity for metastatic nodes (EUS-FNB: 87% vs. EUS-FNA: 100%, p=0.5). The sensitivity for lymphoma was borderline superior in favor of EUS-FNB (EUS-FNB: 55% vs. EUS-FNA: 9%, p=0.06). No adverse events were recorded.

Conclusions

In lymphadenopathy, both EUS-FNB and EUS-FNA are safe and highly sensitive for metastatic lymph node detection. Lymphoma diagnosis is challenging regardless of the needle used.

Endoscopic Ultrasound Through-the-Needle Biopsy for the Diagnosis of an Abdominal Bronchogenic Cyst

A 57-year-old woman with epigastric pain was diagnosed with a 6-cm abdominal cystic lesion of unclear origin on cross-sectional imaging. Endoscopic ultrasound (EUS) demonstrated a unilocular cyst located between the pancreas, gastric wall, and left adrenal gland, with a regular wall filled with dense fluid with multiple hyperechoic floating spots. A 19-G needle was used to puncture the cyst, but no fluid could be aspirated. Therefore, EUS-guided through-the-needle biopsy (EUS-TTNB) was performed. Histological analysis of the retrieved fragments revealed a fibrous wall lined by "respiratory-type" epithelium with ciliated columnar cells, consistent with the diagnosis of a bronchogenic cyst. Laparoscopic excision was performed, and the diagnosis was confirmed based on the findings of the surgical specimen. Abdominal bronchogenic cysts are extremely uncommon, and a definitive diagnosis is commonly obtained after the examination of surgical specimens due to the lack of pathognomonic findings on cross-sectional imaging and poor cellularity on EUS-guided fine-needle aspiration cytology. EUS-TTNB is useful for establishing a preoperative histological diagnosis, thus supporting the decision-making process.

Peritoneal dissemination of pancreatic cancer caused by endoscopic ultrasound-guided fine needle aspiration: A case report and literature review

BACKGROUND

Endoscopic ultrasound-guided fine needle aspiration (EUS-FNA) is a biopsy technique widely used to diagnose pancreatic tumors because of its high sensitivity and specificity. Although needle-tract seeding caused by EUS-FNA has been recently reported, dissemination of pancreatic cancer cells is generally considered to be a rare complication that does not affect patient prognosis. However, the frequency of dissemination and needle-tract seeding appears to have been underestimated. We present a case of peritoneal dissemination of pancreatic cancer due to preoperative EUS-FNA.

CASE SUMMARY

An 81-year-old man was referred to the Department of Surgery of our hospital in Japan owing to the detection of a pancreatic mass on computed tomography during medical screening. Trans-gastric EUS-FNA revealed that the mass was an adenocarcinoma; hence laparoscopic distal pancreatectomy with lympha-denectomy was performed. No intraoperative peritoneal dissemination and liver metastasis were visually detected, and pelvic lavage cytology was negative for carcinoma cells. The postoperative surgical specimen was negative for carcinoma cells at the dissected margin and the cut end margin; however, pathological findings revealed adenocarcinoma cells on the peritoneal surface proximal to the needle puncture site, and the cells were suspected to be disseminated via EUS- FNA. Hence, the patient received adjuvant therapy with S-1 (tegafur, gimeracil, and oteracil potassium); however, computed tomography performed 5 mo after surgery revealed liver metastasis and cancerous peritonitis. The patient received palliative therapy and died 8 mo after the operation.

CONCLUSION

The indications of EUS-FNA should be carefully considered to avoid iatrogenic dissemination, especially for cancers in the pancreatic body or tail.

Diagnostic efficacy of different pathologic methods for assessing tissue obtained by endoscopic ultrasound-guided fine needle aspiration: a prospective study

AIMS

The best method for processing specimens by endoscopic ultrasound-guided fine needle aspiration (EUS-FNA) has not been standardized and varies considerably between medical centers. The purpose of this study is to explore whether a combination of histologic and cytologic methods can increase the diagnostic efficacy of EUS-FNA in solid lesions around the digestive tract.

METHODS

We recruited 52 patients (65 cases total) with solid lesions around the digestive tract who underwent EUS-FNA as performed by the same endoscopic physician from December 2016 to January 2018. All the EUS-FNA specimens were processed by conventional smear cytology (CS), liquid-based cytology (LBC), cell block (CB), and histopathology. All the pathologic results were tracked to investigate the diagnostic value of the methods.

RESULTS

Fifty-three malignant lesions and 12 benign lesions were analyzed. The diagnostic accuracy levels of the CS, LBC, CB, and histopathology were 96.9%, 89.2%, 91.9%, and 48.1%, respectively. CS had a higher diagnostic accuracy than CB (P < 0.05) and LBC (P < 0.05). The cytologic methods had a significantly higher diagnostic accuracy than histopathology (P < 0.05). The combined diagnostic accuracy of all the methods was 100%. The diagnostic sensitivities of the CS, LBC, CB and histopathology were 96.2%, 86.8%, 90.4%, and 37.2%, respectively, and the diagnostic specificity of each of the four methods was 100%.

CONCLUSIONS

Different pathological methods can compensate for one another, substantially improving the overall positive detection rate of EUS-FNA. Combining cytology and histology can contribute additional diagnostic efficacy to EUS-FNA in solid lesions around the digestive tract.

Role of endoscopic ultrasound in pediatric patients: A single tertiary center experience and review of the literature

BACKGROUND

Although endoscopic ultrasound (EUS) is now widely available and has an established role in adults, the utility of EUS and EUS-guided fine needle aspiration (EUS-FNA) in pediatrics is insufficiently described compared to adults and is supported by only a few studies.

AIM

To report the experience of a single tertiary center in the use of EUS and EUS-FNA in a pediatric population and to further assess its safety, feasibility, and clinical impact on management.

METHODS

A retrospective study of 13 children (aged 18 years or younger) identified from our medical database was conducted. A retrospective review of demographic data, procedure indications, EUS findings, and the clinical impact of EUS on the subsequent management of these patients was performed.

RESULTS

During the 4-year study period, a total of 13 (1.7%) pediatric EUS examinations out of 749 EUS procedures were performed in our unit. The mean age of these 8 females and 5 males was 15.6 years (range: 6-18). Six of the 13 EUS examinations were pancreatobiliary (46.1%), followed by mediastinal 2/13 (15.4%), peri-gastric 2/13 (15.4%), abdominal lymphadenopathy 1/13 (7.7%), tracheal 1/13 (7.7%) and rectal 1/13 (7.7%). Overall, EUS-FNA was performed in 7 patients (53.8%) with a diagnostic yield of 100%. The EUS results had a significant impact on clinical care in 10/13 (77%) cases. No complications occurred in these patients during or after any of the procedures.

CONCLUSION

EUS and EUS-FNA in the pediatric population are safe, feasible, and have a significant clinical impact on the subsequent management; thus avoiding invasive and unnecessary procedures.

Evaluation of Ki67 Index in Endoscopic Ultrasound-Guided Fine Needle Aspiration Samples for the Assessment of Malignancy Risk in Gastric Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumors

BACKGROUND

The risk of malignancy in resected gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GISTs) depends on tumor size, location, and mitotic index. Reportedly, the Ki67 index has a prognostic value in resected GISTs. We aimed to analyze the accuracy of endoscopic ultrasound (EUS)-guided fine needle aspiration (FNA) samples with reference to Ki67 index, using surgical specimens as the gold standard.

METHODS

Fifty-five patients who underwent EUS-FNA followed by surgical resection for gastric GISTs were retrospectively analyzed. Patients' age and sex; tumors' size and location; mitotic index, cell type, cellularity, pleomorphism, presence of ulceration, hemorrhage, necrosis, mucosal or serosal invasion, growth pattern, and Ki67 index based on pathology were investigated.

RESULTS

Location in fundus, ulceration, hemorrhage, mucosal invasion, and Ki67 index in surgical specimens were significant in predicting high-risk groups (p < 0.05) on univariate analysis. Frequency of bleeding (p = 0.034) and the Ki67 index (p = 0.018) were the only independent significant factors in multivariate analysis. The optimal cutoff level of Ki67 was 5%, with 88.2% sensitivity and 52.8% specificity (p = 0.021). The mean Ki67 index was lower in EUS-FNA samples than in surgical specimens (2% [1-15] versus 10% [1-70], p = 0.001). The rank correlation coefficient value of Ki67 was 0.199 (p = 0.362) between EUS-FNA and surgical samples and showed no reliability for EUS-FNA samples.

CONCLUSION

The Ki67 index in resected specimens correlated with high-risk GISTs, although it had no additive value to the current criteria. The Ki67 index in EUS-guided FNA samples is not a reliable marker of proliferation in GISTs.

Histological diagnosis and grading of pancreatic neuroendocrine tumor by endoscopic ultrasound-guided fine needle biopsy using a 25-gauge needle with a core trap: A multicenter prospective trial

OBJECTIVES

Preoperative grading of pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors (PanNET) is challenging. The aim of this study was to prospectively evaluate the use of a 25-gauge needle with a core trap for diagnosis and grading of PanNET.

METHODS

This multicenter prospective trial was registered with the University Hospital Medical Information Network (UMIN000021409). Consecutive patients with suspected PanNET between June 2016 and November 2017 were enrolled. All patients underwent endoscopic ultrasound-guided fine needle biopsy (EUS-FNB) using a 25-gauge needle with a core trap. Samples obtained after the first needle pass were used for central pathological review. EUS-FNB was evaluated in terms of (i) technical success rate, (ii) adequacy for histological evaluation, (iii) complication rate during the procedure, and (iv) concordance between PanNET grading on EUS-FNB and that after analysis of the resected tumor.

RESULTS

Fifty-two patients were enrolled. Of the 36/52 patients who underwent surgical resection, 31 were finally diagnosed with PanNET and were eligible for analysis. The technical success rate of EUS-FNB was 100%. The rate of adequacy for histological evaluation was 90.3%. There were no complications related to EUS-FNB. The concordance rate between PanNET grading on EUS-FNB and that after analysis of the resected tumor was 82.6% (95% confidence interval = 61.22-95.05, P = 0.579).

CONCLUSIONS

EUS-FNB using a 25-gauge needle with a core trap is feasible, providing histological samples are of sufficient quality for diagnosis and grading of PanNET.

Endoscopic Ultrasound-Guided Random Omental Fine Needle Aspiration: A Novel Technique for the Diagnosis of Peritoneal Carcinomatosis

Background/Aims

Diagnostic abdominal paracentesis has been described in literature to have variable sensitivity of 50%–75% for the detection of peritoneal carcinomatosis (PC). We believe that random needle aspirates from the omentum, even in the absence of obvious deposits by endoscopic ultrasound (EUS), could prove malignancy in patients with PC.

Methods

Consecutive patients who underwent EUS for diagnosis and staging of cancer and found to have ascites were included after obtaining informed consent. EUS-guided fine needle aspiration (EUS-FNA) from random sites in the omentum was performed through the transgastric route using a linear echoendoscope.

Results

Fifty-four patients underwent EUS during October 2015 to April 2017 for detection, staging, or FNA of a suspected malignant lesion. Ascites was seen in 17 patients and 15 patients who fulfilled the criteria were included. The procedure was successful in all patients. Cytology was suggestive of malignancy in 12 (80%) but not suggestive of malignancy in 3 (20%) patients. Three patients who tested negative had hyperbilirubinemia with biliary obstruction. Their ascitic fluid analysis result was also negative.

Conclusions

Random FNA of the omentum in patients with malignancy-related ascites is highly effective in the diagnosis of PC and could be employed during EUS evaluation of malignancies.

Utility of Endoscopic Ultrasound-Guided Fine Needle Aspiration in the Diagnosis of Local Recurrence of Pancreaticobiliary Cancer after Surgical Resection

Background/Aims

Endoscopic ultrasound (EUS)-guided fine needle aspiration (FNA; EUS-FNA) allows for diagnostic tissue specimens from various regions to be analyzed. However, diagnosing recurrent pancreaticobiliary cancer after surgery is sometimes difficult. We evaluated the efficacy of EUS-FNA in the diagnosis of local recurrence of pancreaticobiliary cancer and analyzed the factors associated with falsenegative results.

Methods

Fifty-one consecutive patients who underwent EUS-FNA due to suspected recurrence of pancreaticobiliary cancer after surgery in an academic center were retrospectively analyzed. The criteria for EUS-FNA were a resected margin or remnant pancreas mass, round swollen lymph node (≥10 mm in diameter), and soft-tissue enhancement around a major artery. Patients with suspected liver metastasis or malignant ascites were excluded.

Results

Thirty-nine of the 51 patients had pancreatic cancer; the remaining 12 had biliary cancer. The target sites for EUS-FNA were the soft tissue around a major artery (n=22, 43%), the resected margin or remnant pancreas (n=12, 24%), and the lymph nodes (n=17, 33%). The median size of the suspected recurrent lesions was 15 mm (range, 8 to 40 mm). The overall sensitivity, specificity and accuracy of EUS-FNA for the diagnosis of recurrence was 84% (32/38), 100% (13/13), and 88% (45/51), respectively. FNA of the soft tissue around major arteries (odds ratio, 8.23; 95% confidence interval, 1.2 to 166.7; p=0.033) was significantly associated with a falsenegative diagnosis in the multivariate analysis.

Conclusions

EUS-FNA is useful for diagnosing recurrent cancer, even after pancreaticobiliary surgery. The diagnoses of recurrence at soft-tissue sites should be interpreted with caution.

Pathologic interpretation of endoscopic ultrasound-guided fine needle aspiration cytology/biopsy for pancreatic lesions

Pathologic interpretation of endoscopic ultrasound–guided fine needle aspiration (EUS-FNA) cytology/biopsy specimens is one of the most challenging tasks in cytology and surgical pathology practice, as the procedure often yields minimal amounts of diagnostic material and contains contaminants, such as blood cells and normal intestinal mucosa. EUS-FNA cytology/biopsy will nevertheless become a more popular procedure for evaluation of various pancreatic lesions because they are difficult to approach with conventional endoscopic procedures. Pathologists should understand the structural differences and limitations of EUS-FNA that make pathologic diagnosis difficult. Ancillary tests are available for differential diagnosis of EUS-FNA for various pancreatic lesions. Immunostains are the most commonly used ancillary tests, and pathologists should able to choose the necessary panel for differential diagnosis. Pathologists should review clinical history and radiologic and/or EUS findings before selecting an immunostain panel and making a pathologic diagnosis. In addition, one’s threshold of malignancy should be adjusted according to the appropriate clinical setting to avoid under-evaluation of pathologic diagnoses. Clinico-pathologic correlation is essential in pathologic evaluation of EUS-FNA for pancreatic lesions. Pathologists can reduce errors by correlating clinical and radiologic findings when evaluating EUS-FNA. Some molecular tests can be applied in differential diagnosis of pancreatic neoplastic and cystic lesions. Molecular data should be used as supportive evidence of a specific disease entity, rather than direct evidence, and should be correlated with clinico-pathologic findings to avoid errors in pathologic diagnosis.

Diagnostic value of liquid-based cytology and smear cytology in pancreatic endoscopic ultrasound-guided fine needle aspiration: A meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

Smear cytology (SC) using endoscopic ultrasound-guided fine needle aspiration (EUS-FNA) is the established and traditional choice for diagnosing pancreatic lesions. Liquid-based cytology (LBC) is a novel alternative cytological method, however, the comparative diagnostic efficacy of LBC remains inconclusive.

AIM

To examine the diagnostic efficacy of LBC and SC for pancreatic specimens obtained through EUS-FNA via a systematic review and meta-analysis.

METHODS

A systematic literature search was performed using PubMed, EMBASE, the Cochrane Library, and Web of Science. The numbers of true positives, false positives, true negatives, and false negatives for each cytological test (LBC and CS) were extracted from the included studies. The pooled sensitivity and specificity and the area under the summary receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) were calculated, and the AUC was compared by Tukey's multiple comparisons test. The quality of the included studies was assessed using the Quality Assessment of Diagnostic Accuracy Studies II tool.

RESULTS

A total of 1656 patients in eight studies were included. The pooled sensitivity and specificity and the AUC for LBC were 0.76 (95%CI: 0.72-0.79), 1.00 (95%CI: 0.98-1.00), and 0.9174, respectively, for diagnosing pancreatic lesions. The pooled estimates for SC were as follows: Sensitivity, 0.68 (95%CI: 0.64-0.71); specificity, 0.99 (95%CI: 0.96-100.00); and AUC, 0.9714. Similarly, the corresponding values for LBC combined with SC were 0.87 (95%CI: 0.84-0.90), 0.99 (95%CI: 0.96-1.00), and 0.9894. Tukey’s multiple comparisons test was used to compare the sensitivities and AUCs of the three diagnostic methods; statistically significant differences were found between the three methods, and LBC combined with SC was superior to both LBC (P < 0.05) and SC (P < 0.05). The pooled sensitivity and AUC did not change significantly in the sensitivity analysis.

CONCLUSION

LBC may be sensitive than SC in the cytological diagnosis of pancreatic lesions, however, the superior diagnostic performance of their combination emphasizes their integrated usage in the clinical evaluation of pancreatic lesions.

The usefulness of serial pancreatic juice aspiration cytological examination for pancreatic cancer not diagnosed by EUS-FNAB

Endoscopic ultrasound-guided fine-needle aspiration biopsy (EUS-FNAB) is safe and useful for the diagnosis of pancreatic cancer. However, sometimes a diagnosis cannot be established by EUS-FNAB. The efficacy of serial pancreatic juice aspiration cytological examination (SPACE) for pancreatic cancer was reported. SPACE may be useful in cases in which diagnosis by EUS-FNAB is difficult; however, this has not been reported previously. We herein report two cases of pancreatic cancer diagnosed by SPACE when diagnosis by EUS-FNAB was difficult. Case 1 was a 77-year-old female. She was suspected of pancreatic cancer because of new-onset diabetes. We performed EUS-FNAB to the lesion in the pancreatic body; however, diagnosis failed. We performed SPACE and diagnosed pancreatic cancer finally. Case 2 was 72 years old female. She was suspected of having pancreatic cancer because of the dilatation of the pancreatic duct. We performed EUS-FNAB twice to the lesion in the pancreatic head, however, diagnosis failed. Therefore, we performed SPACE and got final diagnosis as pancreatic cancer. From our experience, we suggest that SPACE is a useful diagnostic method for patients with pancreatic cancer that are difficult to diagnose.

Bronchogenic cyst of the stomach: A case report

BACKGROUND

Gastric bronchogenic cysts (BCs) are extremely rare cystic masses caused by abnormal development of the respiratory system during the embryonic period. Gastric bronchial cysts are rare lesions first reported in 1956; as of 2019, only 37 cases are available in the MEDLINE/PubMed online databases. BCs usually have no clinical symptoms in the early stage, and their imaging findings also lack specificity. Therefore, they are difficult to diagnose before histopathological examination.

CASE SUMMARY

A 55-year-old woman presented at our hospital with intermittent epigastric pain. She had a slightly high level of serum carbohydrate antigen 72-4 (CA 72-4). Endoscopic ultrasound found that a cystic mass originated from the submucosa of the posterior gastric wall near the cardia, indicating a diagnosis of cystic hygroma of the stomach. Furthermore, a computed tomography scan demonstrated a quasi-circular cystic mass closely related to the lesser curvature of the gastric fundus with a low density. Because the imaging examinations did not suggest a malignancy and the patient required complete resection, she underwent laparoscopic surgery. As an intraoperative finding, this cystic lesion was located in the posterior wall of the fundus and contained some yellow viscous liquid. Finally, the pathologists verified that the cyst in the fundus was a gastric BC. The patient recovered well with normal CA 72-4 levels, and her course was uneventful at 10 mo.

CONCLUSION

This is a valuable report as it describes an extremely rare case of gastric BC. Moreover, this is the first case of BC to present with elevated CA 72-4 levels.

Endoscopic Ultrasound-Guided Fine Needle Biopsy Using 22-Gauge Franseen Needle for the Histological Diagnosis of Solid Lesions: A Multicenter Prospective Pilot Study

BACKGROUND

Recently, a novel 22-gauge needle with three symmetric needle points and crown-shaped cutting heels, known as a Franseen needle, has been developed for endoscopic ultrasound-guided fine needle biopsy (EUS-FNB).

AIM

To assess the histological material acquisition rate and histological diagnostic capability of the 22-gauge Franseen needle (AC22) during EUS-FNB for solid lesions.

METHODS

This study was designed as an open-label, multicenter, prospective, single-arm pilot study of EUS-FNB using AC22 for the diagnosis of solid lesions. Three passes of FNB using AC22 were performed for all lesions. The primary endpoints were the histological material acquisition rate and histological diagnostic capability. The secondary endpoints were the technical success rate, quality of histological samples, number of passes for diagnosis, and safety.

RESULTS

Between September 2017 and May 2018, 75 patients were enrolled. The final diagnoses were malignancy in 65 and benign in 10. Three passes of FNB were technically successful in all patients. The sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy for the malignancy of histological analyses were 92.3% (60/65), 100% (10/10), and 93.3% (70/75), respectively, for the first pass and 95.4% (62/65), 100% (10/10), and 96% (72/75), respectively, for combined three passes. The diagnostic yield plateaued after the second pass. Sufficient tissue samples for histological interpretation were obtained in 96% (72/75) and 100% (75/75) patients for the single pass and combined three passes, respectively. Two patients (2.7%) developed mild pancreatitis as an adverse event.

CONCLUSION

EUS-FNB using AC22 showed high histological diagnostic capability with the high first pass yield.

CLINICAL TRIALS REGISTRY

UMIN Clinical Trials Registry (UMIN ID: UMIN000036641).

Similarities and differences in guidelines for the management of pancreatic cysts

Accurate diagnosis of Pancreatic cysts (PC) is key in the management. The knowledge of indications for surgery, the role of endoscopic ultrasound-guided fine needle aspiration, cyst fluid analysis, imaging, and surveillance of PC are all important in the diagnosis and management of PC. Currently, there are many guidelines for the management of PC. The optimal use of these guidelines with a patient-centered approach helps diagnose early cancer and prevent the spread of cancer.

Endoscopic ultrasound-guided ascites aspiration in the hands of the chest physician using the EBUS endoscope in the oesophagus

Background

The use of the endobronchial ultrasound (EBUS) scope in the oesophagus, the so-called EUS-B procedure, for the diagnosis and staging of lung cancer is quickly gaining ground.

Case presentation

We here present a case demonstrating that EUS-B guided aspiration of intraperitoneal fluid (ascites) is possible. This has never been described before.

The procedure was performed with the use of a 22 G needle in a 71 years old woman suspected of lung cancer. No complications were seen.

Conclusion

We hereby demonstrate that EUS-B fine needle aspiration from ascites fluid is feasible and appears to be safe.

Needle tract seeding recurrence of pancreatic cancer in the gastric wall with paragastric lymph node metastasis after endoscopic ultrasound-guided fine needle aspiration followed by pancreatectomy: a case report and literature review

Background

Endoscopic ultrasound-guided fine needle aspiration (EUS-FNA) has high accuracy and a low complication rate; therefore, it has been widely used as a useful tool for diagnosis of and to determine treatment strategies for pancreatic tumors. Recently, reports of the recurrence of needle tract seeding after EUS-FNA are emerging.

Case presentation

An 83-year-old woman was referred to our hospital to undergo further examination of her pancreatic tumor. Multidetector computed tomography (MDCT) revealed a 25-mm-diameter mass in the pancreatic body. She underwent EUS-FNA (transgastric, 22-G needle, 2 passes) and was subsequently diagnosed with adenocarcinoma. Distal pancreatosplenectomy followed by adjuvant chemotherapy with S-1 for 6 months was performed. The level of carbohydrate antigen 19–9 gradually increased 22 months after surgery, and MDCT, which was performed 3 months later, revealed a 23-mm low-density mass in the stomach and paragastric lymph node swelling. Gastroendoscopy revealed a submucosal tumor, and endoscopic ultrasound revealed a hypoechoic mass in the submucosa of the gastric wall. Partial gastrectomy with lymph node resection was performed. The pathological findings showed adenocarcinoma extending from the subserosa to the submucosa and lymph node metastasis, consistent with a tumor recurrence from the resected pancreatic tumor. She received adjuvant chemotherapy with S-1; recurrence was not observed for 5 months, at the time of this writing.

Conclusion

It is important to pay careful attention to the development of needle tract seeding in patients with pancreatic cancer diagnosed by EUS-FNA. This is the first case of needle tract seeding with lymph node metastasis, highlighting the need for caution and providing novel insight in the postoperative follow-up of patients with pancreatic body/tail cancer.

Comparison of the Diagnostic Yield of the Standard 22-Gauge Needle and the New 20-Gauge Forward-Bevel Core Biopsy Needle for Endoscopic Ultrasound-Guided Tissue Acquisition from Pancreatic Lesions

Background/Aims

To compare the diagnostic yield of 20-gauge forward-bevel core biopsy needle (CBN) and 22-gauge needle for endoscopic ultrasound (EUS)-guided fine needle aspiration (FNA) of solid pancreatic masses.

Methods

The use of 20-gauge CBN was prospectively evaluated for 50 patients who underwent EUS-FNA from June 2016 to December 2016. Data were compared with those obtained by a retrospective study of 50 consecutive patients who underwent EUS-FNA using standard 22-gauge needles between December 2016 and April 2017. At least two punctures were performed for each patient; the sample from the first pass was used for cytology with or without histology and that from the second pass was used for histology. Sample quantity was evaluated using the sample obtained from the second pass.

Results

There was no significant difference in the diagnostic accuracy rate between the first and second passes (20-gauge CBN: 96% [48/50]; standard 22-gauge needle: 88% [44/50]). Samples >10× power fields in length were obtained from 90% (43/48) and 60% (30/50) of patients using the 20-gauge CBN and standard 22-gauge needle, respectively (p=0.01). Technical failure occurred for two patients with the 20-gauge CBN.

Conclusions

Diagnostic accuracy of the 20-gauge CBN was comparable to that of the 22-gauge needle. However, two passes with the 20-gauge CBN yielded a correct diagnosis for 100% of patients when technically feasible. Moreover, the 20-gauge CBN yielded core tissue for 90% patients, which was a performance superior to that of the 22-gauge needle.

Can the wet suction technique change the efficacy of endoscopic ultrasound-guided fine-needle aspiration for diagnosing autoimmune pancreatitis type 1? A prospective single-arm study

BACKGROUND

Other than surgery, endoscopic ultrasound-guided fine-needle aspiration (EUS-FNA) is the only procedure for histologically diagnosing autoimmune pancreatitis (AIP). However, adequate specimens are difficult to obtain. Recently, more adequate specimens were reported to be obtained with EUS-FNA with a wet suction technique (WEST) than with conventional EUS-FNA.

AIM

To histologically diagnose AIP by EUS-FNA with a WEST.

METHODS

Eleven patients with possible type 1 AIP between February 2016 and August 2018 underwent EUS-FNA with a WEST (WEST group), with four punctures by 19 or 22 G needles. As a historical control, 23 type 1 AIP patients who underwent no fewer than four punctures with 19 or 22 G needles were enrolled (DRY group). Patient characteristics and histological findings were compared between the two groups.

RESULTS

Three histopathological factors according to the International Consensus Diagnostic Criteria were significantly greater in the WEST group than the DRY group [lymphoplasmacytic infiltrate without granulocytic infiltration: 9 (81.8%) vs 6 (26.1%), P = 0.003, storiform fibrosis: 5 (45.5%) vs 1 (4.3%), P = 0.008, abundant (> 10 cells/HPF) IgG4-positive cells: 7 (63.6%) vs 5 (21.7%), P = 0.026]. Level 1 or level 2 histopathological findings were observed more often in the WEST group than in the DRY group [8 (72.7%) vs 3 (13.0%), P = 0.001].

CONCLUSION

EUS-FNA with a WEST was more successful than standard EUS-FNA in histologically diagnosing AIP.

Diagnostic yield of endoscopic ultrasound with fine-needle aspiration in pancreatic cystic lesions

INTRODUCTION

Despite advances in imaging techniques, in many cases they are insufficient to establish the diagnosis of pancreatic cystic lesions (PCL). There are few publications in our setting that evaluate the combination of several methods obtained by endoscopic ultrasound-guided fine needle aspiration (EUS-FNA). The aim of the study was to evaluate the overall utility of EUS-FNA in the diagnosis of PCL.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

Retrospective study based on a database updated prospectively of a cohort of patients referred for EUS-FNA due to PCL detected in an imaging test. The sensitivity, specificity and diagnostic yield of carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA), cytology and viscosity were studied to detect mucinous lesions.

RESULTS

From November 2013 to April 2018, 122 EUS were performed for PCL. EUS-FNA was performed in 94/122 (77%) and 21/122 (17.2%) patients were operated on. We included 33/122 patients who had diagnostic confirmation by histology, imaging (serous cyst with typical pattern) or clinical evolution. The study of the ROC curve determined the cutoff point ≥419 ng/ml to differentiate mucinous/non-mucinous cystic lesions. The diagnostic yield of CEA was 87.5% (21/24), cytology 81.8% (27/33) and viscosity 84.4% (27/32). The three parameters in combination obtained the best result (30/33, 90.9%).

CONCLUSION

The combination of CEA analysis, cytology and viscosity of pancreatic fluid obtained by EUS-FNA increases the performance in the diagnosis of mucinous pancreatic cystic lesions, with it being greater than 90%.