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Comparative Study
. 2002 Jun;97(6):1386-91.
doi: 10.1111/j.1572-0241.2002.05777.x.

Endosonography-guided fine needle aspiration biopsy in the evaluation of pancreatic masses

Gavin C Harewood  1 , Maurits J Wiersema
Affiliations
Comparative Study

Endosonography-guided fine needle aspiration biopsy in the evaluation of pancreatic masses

Gavin C Harewood et al. Am J Gastroenterol. 2002 Jun.

Abstract

Objectives: Diagnosis of pancreatic tumors can be problematic. This study aimed to determine the performance of endoscopic ultrasound-guided fine needle aspiration biopsy (EUS FNA) in pancreatic malignancy when prior biopsies performed by CT guidance or ERCP were negative.

Methods: A total of 185 patients with known or suspected pancreatic masses were prospectively evaluated with EUS FNA. Before EUS FNA, all patients were evaluated with abdominal CT (61 with CT-guided biopsy) and 91 with ERCP (41 had brushings or biopsy).

Results: EUS had greater sensitivity than CT in detecting a mass (99% vs 57%, p < 0.0001). In 58 patients with negative CT-guided biopsies, EUS FNA had 90% sensitivity for malignancy, 50% specificity for benign disease and 84% accuracy. Similarly, in 36 patients with negative ERCP tissue sampling, results for EUS FNA were 94%, 67% and 92%, respectively. Complications were mild and infrequent (0.5%).

Conclusion: EUS FNA of pancreatic masses safely and accurately diagnoses pancreatic malignancy when prior biopsy techniques have been unsuccessful.

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