Percutaneous ultrasound-guided coaxial core needle biopsy for the diagnosis of multiple splenic lesions: A case report

BACKGROUND The overlap of imaging manifestations among distinct splenic lesions gives rise to a diagnostic dilemma.Consequently,a definitive diagnosis primarily relies on his-tological results.The ultrasound(US)-guided coaxial core needle biopsy(CNB)not only procures sufficient tissue to help clarify the diagnosis,but reduces the incidence of puncture-related complications.CASE SUMMARY A 41-year-old female,with a history of pulmonary tuberculosis,was admitted to our hospital with multiple indeterminate splenic lesions.Gray-scale ultrasono-graphy demonstrated splenomegaly with numerous well-defined hypoechoic ma-sses.Abdominal contrast-enhanced computed tomography(CT)showed an en-larged spleen with multiple irregular-shaped,peripherally enhancing,hypodense lesions.Positron emission CT revealed numerous abnormal hyperglycemia foci.These imaging findings strongly indicated the possibility of infectious disease as the primary concern,with neoplastic lesions requiring exclusion.To obtain the precise pathological diagnosis,the US-guided coaxial CNB of the spleen was ca-rried out.The patient did not express any discomfort during the procedure.CONCLUSION Percutaneous US-guided coaxial CNB is an excellent and safe option for obtaining precise splenic tissue samples,as it significantly enhances sample yield for exact pathological analysis with minimum trauma to the spleen parenchyma and sur-rounding tissue.

Phase II Clinical Study of Three-Dimensional Printed Coplanar Template Combined with CT-Guided Percutaneous Core Needle Biopsy of Pulmonary Nodules in Elderly Patients

Background: As the population age structure gradually ages, more and more elderly people were found to have pulmonary nodules during physical examinations. Most elderly people had underlying diseases such as heart, lung, brain and blood vessels and cannot tolerate surgery. Computed tomography (CT)-guided percutaneous core needle biopsy (CNB) was the first choice for pathological diagnosis and subsequent targeted drugs, immune drugs or ablation treatment. CT-guided percutaneous CNB requires clinicians with rich CNB experience to ensure high CNB accuracy, but it was easy to cause complications such as pneumothorax and hemorrhage. Three-dimensional (3D) printing coplanar template (PCT) combined with CT-guided percutaneous pulmonary CNB biopsy has been used in clinical practice, but there was no prospective, randomized controlled study. Methods: Elderly patients with lung nodules admitted to the Department of Oncology of our hospital from January 2019 to January 2023 were selected. A total of 225 elderly patients were screened, and 30 patients were included after screening. They were randomly divided into experimental group (Group A: 30 cases) and control group (Group B: 30 cases). Group A was given 3D-PCT combined with CT-guided percutaneous pulmonary CNB biopsy, Group B underwent CT-guided percutaneous pulmonary CNB. The primary outcome measure of this study was the accuracy of diagnostic CNB, and the secondary outcome measures were CNB time, number of CNB needles, number of pathological tissues and complications. Results: The diagnostic accuracy of group A and group B was 96.67% and 76.67%, respectively (P = 0.026). There were statistical differences between group A and group B in average CNB time (P = 0.001), number of CNB (1 vs more than 1, P = 0.029), and pathological tissue obtained by CNB (3 vs 1, P = 0.040). There was no statistical difference in the incidence of pneumothorax and hemorrhage between the two groups (P > 0.05). Conclusions: 3D-PCT combined with CT-guided percutaneous CNB can improve the puncture accuracy of elderly patients, shorten the puncture time, reduce the number of punctures, and increase the amount of puncture pathological tissue, without increasing pneumothorax and hemorrhage complications. We look forward to verifying this in a phase III randomized controlled clinical study. .

Indications for Renal Needle Biopsy and Histological Spectrum of Kidney Disease in Togo

Introduction: The frequent late-stage diagnosis of chronic kidney disease (CKD) constrains the treatment choices for nephrologists. Renal biopsy (RB) is crucial for accurately identifying renal lesions. This key nephrological procedure, however, is invasive and not without potential complications. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the indications, frequency, and histological lesion profiles of renal biopsies in Togo. Materials and Methods: We conducted a descriptive cross-sectional study encompassing all renal biopsies performed in Togo from the inception of nephrology services to the present. Data were compiled from the medical records of the patients. Results: From 2015 to 2023, 68 high-quality renal biopsies were executed in Togo. The patients had an average age of 30.6 years, with a predominance of males (69.1%). The most common indication was nephrotic syndrome, accounting for 66.2% of cases. Histologically, glomerulopathies were predominant, representing 61.8% of lesions, followed by vascular nephropathies (25%) and tubulointerstitial nephropathies (13.2%). The most frequently observed primary glomerulopathy was focal segmental glomerulosclerosis (FSGS). Gross hematuria was the sole complication, occurring in 1.4% of the cases. Conclusion: RB is an evolving practice in Togo. Glomerulopathies are the most commonly observed lesions. The histological categorization of renal lesions is vital for clinicians in their diagnostic reasoning and approach.

Cytopathologic diagnosis of fine needle aspiration biopsies of thyroid nodules

Fine-needle aspiration(FNA) cytology is an important diagnostic tool in patients with thyroid lesions.Several systems have been proposed for the cyropathologic diagnosis of the thyroid nodules.However cases with indeterminate cytological findings still remain a matter of debate.In this review we analyze all literature regarding Thyroid Cytopathology Reporting systems trying to identify the most suitable methodology to use in clinical practice for the preoperative diagnosis of thyroid nodules.A review of the English literature was conducted,and data were analyzed and summarized and integrated from the authors' perspective.The main purpose of thyroid FNA is to identify patients with higher risk for malignancy,and to prevent unnecessary surgeries for benign conditions.The Bethesda System for Reporting Thyroid Cytopathology is the most widely used system for the diagnosis of thyroid FNA specimens.This system also contains guidelines for the diagnosis and treatment of indeterminate or suspicious for malignancy cases.In conclusion,patients who require repeated FNAs for indeterminate diagnoses will be resolved by repeat FNA in a percentage of 72%-80%.

Ultrasound-guided fine needle biopsy of intra- hepatic nodules and low elevation of AFP in early diagnosis of hepatocellular carcinoma

BACKGROUND: With the progress in early clinical treat- ment of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), early detection and diagnosis of HCC have been increasingly pressing. Combined alpha-fetoprotein ( AFP) determination and ul- trasonography has become the main method for the detec- tion of small HCC; but the relationship between low eleva- tion of AFP and pathologic findings of small HCC has not been well defined. The aim of this study was to assess the value of ultrasound-guided fine needle biopsy of intrahe- patic nodules and low elevation of serum AFP in the early diagnosis of HCC. METHODS; Fifty-nine patients with serum AFP exceeding 20 ng/ml and intrahepatic nodules varying from 0.8 cm to 5.0 cm in diameter who had been detected by ultrasonogra- phy underwent ultrasound-guided percutaneous fine needle biopsy, and cytological staining and histological sectioning were performed at the same time. RESULTS: Among the 59 patients, 11 patients (18.6%) showed AFP level above 400 ng/ml, 5 (8. 5%) from 200 ng/ml to 400 ng/ml, 18 (30. 5%) from 50 ng/ml to 200 ng/ml and 25 (42. 4% ) from 20 ng/ml to 50 ng/ml. Fol- low-up demonstrated that 53 patients (89.8%) had a pro- gressive increase of AFP level. In 58 patients (98.3%) cancer cells were found by cytological staining and/or his- tological sectioning. CONCLUSIONS: In those patients with slightly increased or continuously positive AFP, hepatic carcinoma should be highly suspected when AFP increases gradually and intrahe- patic nodules are detected by ultrasonography in follow-up. Once intrahepatic carcinoma nodules are suspected, ultra- sound-guided fine needle biopsy should be performed as early as possible for early diagnosis and treatment.

Factors associated with upstaging in patients preoperatively diagnosed with ductal carcinoma in situ by core needle biopsy

Objective: Patients preoperatively diagnosed with ductal carcinoma in situ(DCIS) by core needle biopsy(CNB) exhibit a significant risk for upstaging on final pathology, which leads to major concerns of whether axillary staging is required at the primary operation. The present study aimed to identify clinicopathological factors associated with upstaging in patients preoperatively diagnosed with DCIS by CNB.Methods: The present study enrolled 604 patients(cN0 M0) with a preoperative diagnosis of pure DCIS by CNB, who underwent axillary staging between August 2006 and December 2015, at Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center(Shanghai, China).Predictive factors of upstaging were analyzed retrospectively.Results: Of the 604 patients, 20.03%(n = 121) and 31.95%(n = 193) were upstaged to DCIS with microinvasion(DCISM) and invasive breast cancer(IBC) on final pathology, respectively. Larger tumor size on ultrasonography(> 2 cm) was independently associated with upstaging [odds ratio(OR) 1.558, P = 0.014]. Additionally, patients in lower breast imaging reporting and data system(BI-RADS) categories were less likely to be upstaged(4 B vs. 5: OR 0.435, P = 0.002;4 C vs. 5: OR 0.502, P = 0.001). Overall,axillary metastasis occurred in 6.79%(n = 41) of patients. Among patients with axillary metastasis, 1.38%(4/290), 3.31%(4/121)and 17.10%(33/193) were in the DCIS, DCISM, and IBC groups, respectively.Conclusions: For patients initially diagnosed with DCIS by CNB, larger tumor size on ultrasonography(> 2 cm) and higher BIRADS category were independent predictive factors of upstaging on final pathology. Thus, axillary staging in patients with smaller tumor sizes and lower BI-RADS category may be omitted, with little downstream risk for upstaging.

Impact of endoscopic ultrasound-guided fine needle biopsy for diagnosis of pancreatic masses

AIM： To evaluate the diagnostic accuracy of histological evaluation of pancreatic tissue samples obtained by a modified method for recovering and processing the endoscopic ultrasound （EUS）-guided fine needle aspiration （FNA） material in the differential diagnosis of pancreatic solid masses. METHODS： Sixty-two consecutive patients with pancreatic masses were prospectively studied. EUS was performed by the linear scanning Pentax FG-38UX echoendoscope. Three FNAs （22G needle） were carried out during each procedure. The materials obtained with first and second punctures were processed for cytological study. Haterials of the third puncture were recovered into 10% formol solution by careful injection of saline solution through the needle, and processed for histological study. RESULTS： Length of the core specimen obtained for histological analysis was 6.5±5.3 mm （range 1-22 mm）. Cytological and histological samples were considered as adequate in 51 （82.3%） and 52 cases （83.9%）, respectively. Overall sensitivity of both pancreatic cytology and histology for diagnosis of malignancy was 68.4%. Conbary to cytology, histology was able to diagnose tumours other than adenocarcinomas, and all cases of inflammatory masses. Combination of cytology and histology allowed obtaining an adequate sample in 56 cases （90.3%）, with a global sensitivity of 84.21%, specificity of 100% and an overall accuracy of 90.32%. The complication rate was 1.6%.CONCLUSION： Adequate pancreatic core specimens for histological examination can be obtained by EUS-guided FNA. This technique is mainly useful for the diagnosis of different types of pancreatic tumours and evaluation of benign diseases.

Does needle calibre affect pain and complication rates in patients undergoing transperineal prostate biopsy？ A prospective, randomized trial

Transperineal prostate biopsy is a procedure that can be used to obtain histological samples from the prostate. To improve both the quality of the biopsy core samples and prostate cancer detection, we are currently performing a prospective, randomized trial comparing prostate biopsy samples obtained using an 18 G-needle to those obtained using a 16 G-needle. The aim of this preliminary study was to evaluate pain and complication rates in both groups in order to assess whether performing a prostate biopsy with a larger calibre needle is a feasible procedure. One hundred and eighty-seven patients undergoing transperineal prostate biopsy were prospectively evaluated and divided into two groups. The first group （94 patients, Group A） received a transperineal prostate biopsy using a 16 G-needle and the second group （93 patients, Group B） underwent transperineal prostate biopsy with an 18 G-needle. Anaesthesia was obtained with a single perineal injection at the prostatic apex in all subjects. A visual analogue scale （VAS） and facial expression scale （FES） were used to assess pain during multiple steps of the procedure in each group. A detailed questionnaire was used to obtain information about drug use because it could potentially influence the pain and complications that patients experienced. Two weeks after the procedure, early and late complications were evaluated. Statistical analysis was carried out using non-parametric tests. Prostate Specific Antigen （PSA） and drug use were similar at baseline between the two groups. Pain during prostate biopsy, which was measured with both the VAS and FES instruments, did not differ significantly between the 18- and 16 G-needle groups, and no significant differences were found in early or late complication rates between the groups. Transperineal prostate biopsy with a 16 G-needle is a feasible Further studies with larger patient populations are required to prostate cancer detection rates. procedure in terms of pain and complication rates. assess whether or not this procedure can improve

Histopathological characteristics of needle core biopsy and surgical specimens from patients with solitary hepatocellular carcinoma or intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma

BACKGROUND Pathological manifestations of hepatic tumours are often associated with prognosis. Although surgical specimens(SS) can provide more information,currently, pre-treatment needle core biopsy(NCB) is increasingly showing important value in understanding the nature of liver tumors and even in diagnosis and treatment decisions. However, the concordance of the clinicopathological characteristics and immunohistochemical(IHC) staining between NCB and SS from patients with hepatic tumours were less concerned.AIM To introduce a more accurate method for interpreting the IHC staining results in order to improve the diagnostic value of hepatic malignancy in NCB samples.METHOD A total of 208 patients who underwent both preoperative NCB and surgical resection for hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC) or intrahepatic cholangiocarcinomaRESULTS Morphologically, the presence of compact tumour nests or a cord-like structure in NCB was considered the primary cause of misdiagnosis of HCC from ICC. The kappa statistic showed a moderate agreement in histomorphology(k = 0.504) and histological grade(k = 0.488) between NCB and SS of the tumours. A 4-tier(+++,++, +, and-) scoring scheme that emphasized the focal neoplastic cell immunoreactivity of tumour cells revealed perfect concordance of CK19, GPC3 and HepPar1 between NCB and SS(k = 0.717; k = 0.768; k = 0.633). Furthermore,with the aid of a binary classification derived from the 4-tier score, a high concordance was achieved in interpreting the IHC staining of the three markers between NCB and final SS(k = 0.931; k = 0.907; k = 0.803), increasing the accuracy of NCB diagnosis C(k = 0.987; area under the curve = 0.997, 95%CI: 0.990-1.000; P< 0.001).CONCLUSION These findings imply that reasonable interpretation of IHC results in NCB is vital for improving the accuracy of tumour diagnosis. The simplified binary classification provides an easy and applicable approach.

Endoscopic ultrasound-guided sampling of solid pancreatic masses:the fine needle aspiration or fine needle biopsy dilemma. Is the best needle yet to come?

Fine needle aspiration (FNA) is currently the standard of care for sampling pancreatic solid masses by using endoscopic ultrasound (EUS).The accuracy of the technique is reported to be high,especially if coupled with the rapid on site evaluation (ROSE),and it has a high safety profile.However,FNA presents some limitations,such as the small amount of tissue that can be collected and the inability of obtaining a core tissue with intact histological architecture,which is relevant to perform immunohistochemical analysis,molecular profiling and,therefore,targeted therapies.Moreover,the presence of the ROSE by an expert cytopathologist is very important to maximize the diagnostic yield of FNA technique;however,it is not widely available,especially in small centers.Hence,the introduction of EUS fine needle biopsy (FNB) with a new generation of needles,which show a high safety profile too and a satisfying diagnostic accuracy even in the absence of ROSE,could be the key to overcome the limitations of FNA.However,FNB has not yet shown diagnostic superiority over FNA.Considering all the technical aspects of FNA and FNB,the different types of needle currently available,comparisons in term of diagnostic yield,and the different techniques of sampling,a tailored approach should be used in order to determine the needle that is most appropriate for the different specific scenarios.

Risk Factors of Complications after CT-guided Percutaneous Needle Biopsy of Lumps Near Pulmonary Hilum

The factors influencing the incidence of common complications（pneumothorax and pulmonary hemorrhage） of CT-guided percutaneous needle biopsy of lumps near pulmonary hilum were investigated. CT-guided percutaneous needle biopsy of lumps near pulmonary hilum was performed on 48 patients. The complications of pneumothorax and pneumorrhagia as well as the contributing factors were analyzed statistically. The major complications associated with CT-guided needle biopsy included pneumothorax（13 cases, 27.1%） and pulmonary hemorrhage（14 cases, 20.24%）. ？2 test revealed that pneumothorax was associated with the lesion size and depth of needle penetration, and pulmonary hemorrhage with the depth of needle penetration and needle retention time with a significant P value. Pneumothorax was observed in 7 cases（17.5%） out of 40 cases with diameter of mass greater than 3 cm, and in 6 cases（60%） out of 10 cases with depth of needle penetration greater than 4 cm. Additionally, pulmonary hemorrhage was identified in 12 cases（41.4%） out of 29 cases with needle retention time longer than 15 min, and pulmonary hemorrhage in 7 cases（70%） out of 10 cases with depth of needle penetration greater than 4 cm. CT-guided percutaneous needle biopsy of lumps near pulmonary hilum is safe and effective. The key factors to prevent the complications include correct evaluation of lesion size, depth of needle penetration and the needle retention time before the operation. Key words： biopsy, CT-guided; hilum; pneumothorax; pulmonary hemorrhage

Is sentinel lymph node biopsy necessary for the patients diagnosed with breast ductal carcinoma in situ using core needle biopsy or vacuum-assisted biopsy as the initial diagnostic method？

Axillary lymph node status is one of the most important prognostic indicator of survival for breast cancer, especially in ductal carcinoma in situ （DCIS）. The purpose of this study was to investigate whether sentinel lymph node biopsy （SLNB） should be performed in patients with an initial diagnosis of DCIS. Methods： A retrospective study was performed of 124 patients with an initial diagnosis of DCIS between March 2000 and June 2014. The patients were treated with either SLNB or axillary node dissection during the surgery, and we compared the clinicopathologic characteristics, image features, and immunohistochemical results. Results： Eighty-two patients （66.1%） had pure DCIS and 25 （20.2%） had DCIS with microinvasion （DCISM）, 17 （13.7%） updated to invasive breast cancer （IBC）. 115 patients （92.7%） underwent SLNB, among them, 70 patients （56.5%） underwent axillary node dissection. 3 of 115 patients （2.6%） had a positive sentinel lymph node, only 1 （1.4%） of 70 patients had axillary lymph node metastasis, in 84 patients （66.7%） who were diagnosed DCIS by core needle biopsy （CNB） and vacuum-assisted biopsy （VAB）. 26 patients （31.0%） were upstaged into IBC or DCISM in the final histological diagnosis. The statistically significant factors predictive of underestimation were large tumor size, microcalcifications, comedo necrosis, positive Her-2 status, negative estrogen receptor status. Conclusion： The metastasis of sentinel lymph nodes in pure DCIS is very low, but the underestimation of invasive carcinoma in patients with an initial diagnosis of DCIS is an usual incident, especially in the cases when DCIS is diagnosed by CNB or VAB. Our findings suggest patients presenting with a preoperative diagnosis of DCIS associated with large tumor sizes, microcalcifications, comedo necrosis, positive Her-2 status, negative ER status are more likely to be DCISM and IBC in final diagnosis. SLNB should be performed in this part of patients.

Concise review on the comparative efficacy of endoscopic ultrasound-guided fine-needle aspiration vs core biopsy in pancreatic masses, upper and lower gastrointestinal submucosal tumors

Endoscopic ultrasound(EUS)-guided fine needle aspiration with or without biopsy(FNA/FNB) are the primary diagnostic tools for gastrointestinal submucosal tumors. EUS-guided fine needle aspiration(EUS-FNA) is considered a first line diagnostic method for the characterization of pancreatic and upper gastrointestinal lesions, since it allows for the direct visualization of the collection of specimens for cytopathologic analysis. EUSFNA is most effective and accurate when immediate cytologic assessment is permitted by the presence of a cytopathologist on site. Unfortunately, the accuracy and thus the diagnostic yield of collected specimens suffer without this immediate analysis. Recently, a EUS-FNB needle capable of obtaining core samples(fine needle biopsy, FNB) has been developed and has shown promising results. This new tool adds a new dimension to the diagnostic and therapeutic utility of this technique. The aim of the present review is to compare the efficacy of EUS-FNA to that afforded by EUS-FNB in the characterization of pancreatic masses and of upper and lower gastrointestinal submucosal tumors.

Endoscopic ultrasound-through-the-needle biopsy in pancreatic cystic lesions: A large single center experience

BACKGROUND Establishing a diagnosis of pancreatic cystic lesions(PCLs)preoperatively still remains challenging.Recently,endoscopic ultrasound(EUS)-through-the-needle biopsy(EUS-TTNB)using microforceps in PCLs has been made available.AIM To assess the efficacy and safety of EUS-TTNB in the diagnosis of PCLs.METHODS We retrospectively collected data of patients with PCLs who underwent both EUS-fine-needle aspiration(FNA)for cytology and EUS-TTNB at our institution since 2016.EUS-FNA for cytology was followed by EUS-TTNB in the same session.Evaluation of the cyst location,primary diagnosis,adverse events,and comparison between the cytologic fluid analyses and histopathology was performed.Technical success of EUS-TTNB was defined as visible tissue present after biopsy.Clinical success was defined as the presence of a specimen adequate to make a histologic or cytologic diagnosis.RESULTS A total of 56 patients(mean age 66.9±11.7,53.6%females)with PCLs were enrolled over the study period.The mean cyst size was 28.8 mm(12-85 mm).The EUS-TTNB procedure was technically successful in all patients(100%).The clinical success rate using EUS-TTNB was much higher than standard EUS-FNA,respectively 80.4%(45/56)vs 25%(14/56).Adverse events occurred in 2 patients(3.6%)who developed mild pancreatitis that resolved with medical therapy.Using TTNB specimens,23 of 32 cases(71.9%)with intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasm were further differentiated into gastric type(19 patients)and pancreaticobiliary type(4 patients)based on immunochemical staining.CONCLUSION EUS-TTNB for PCLs was technically feasible and had a favorable safety profile.Furthermore,the diagnostic yield for PCLs was much higher with EUS-TTNB than standard EUS-FNA cytology and fluid carcinoembryonic antigen.EUSTTNB should be considered as an adjunct to EUS-FNA and cytologic analysis in the diagnosis and management of PCLs.

Efficacy of contrast-enhanced ultrasound-guided percutaneous core needle biopsy in anterior mediastinal masses

Objective:To evaluate the efficacy and safety of percutaneous core needle biopsy(PCNB)using ultrasound(US)-guided and contrast-enhanced ultrasound(CEUS)-guided procedures for anterior mediastinal masses(AMMs).Methods:In total,284 consecutive patients(166 men,118 women;mean age,43.0±18.4 years)who underwent PCNB for AMMs were enrolled.Patients were divided into the US-guided group(n=133)and the CEUS-guided group(n=151).PCNB was performed using a core needle(16-gauge or 18-gauge).Internal necrosis,diagnostic yield,and diagnostic accuracy were compared between the two groups.Results:The predominant final diagnosis of the cases in this study was thymoma(29.7%),lymphoma(20.5%),thymic carcinoma(13.3%),and germ cell tumour(13.3%),respectively.There was no significant difference in patient age,sex,number of percutaneous biopsies,or display rate of internal necrosis on conventional US between the two groups.The rate of internal necrosis of the lesions was significantly higher after contrast agent injection(72.2%vs.41.7%;P<0.001).The CEUS-guided group had a higher diagnostic yield than the US-guided group(100%vs.89.5%,P<0.001).There was no significant difference between the diagnostic accuracy of the CEUSguided and US-guided groups(97.3%vs.97.4%;P=1.000).None of the patients experienced adverse reactions or complications after US-guided or CEUS-guided PCNB.Conclusions:CEUS-guided PCNB can improve the diagnostic yield by optimizing the biopsy procedure.

Endoscopic ultrasound fine needle aspiration vs fine needle biopsy for pancreatic masses,subepithelial lesions,and lymph nodes

Endoscopic ultrasound tissue acquisition,in the form of both fine needle aspiration(EUS-FNA)and fine needle biopsy(EUS-FNB),is utilized for pancreatic mass lesions,subepithelial lesions,and lymph node biopsy.Both procedures are safe and yield high diagnostic value.Despite its high diagnostic yield,EUS-FNA has potential limitations associated with cytological aspirations,including inability to determine histologic architecture,and a small quantitative sample for further immunohistochemical staining.EUS-FNB,with its larger core biopsy needle,was designed to overcome these potential limitations.However,it remains unclear which technique should be used and for which lesions.Comparative trials are plagued by heterogeneity at every stage of comparison;including variable needles used,and different definitions of endpoints,which therefore limit generalizability.Thus,we present a review of prospective trials,systematic reviews,and meta-analyses on studies examining EUS-FNA vs EUSFNB.Prospective comparative trials of EUS-FNA vs EUS-FNB primarily focus on pancreatic mass lesions,and yield conflicting results in terms of demonstrating the superiority of one method.However,consistent among trials is the potential for diagnosis with fewer passes,and a larger quantity of sample achieved for next generation sequencing.With regard to subepithelial lesions and lymph node biopsy,fewer prospective trials exist,and larger prospective studies are necessary.Based on the available literature,we would recommend EUS-FNB for peri-hepatic lymph nodes.

Diagnostic utility of endoscopic ultrasound-guided fineneedle aspiration biopsy for glomus tumor of the stomach

A 52-year-old man was referred for further investigation of a gastric submucosal tumor on the greater curvature of the antrum. Endoscopic ultrasonography demonstrated a hypoechoic solid mass, which was primarily connected to the muscular layer of the stomach. We performed endoscopic ultrasoundguided fine-needle aspiration biopsy. The pathological examination showed proliferation of oval-shaped cells with nest formation, which stained strongly positive for muscle actin, and negative for c-kit, CD34, CD56,desmin, S-100, chromogranin, and neuron-specific enolase. Therefore, we performed laparoscopy and endoscopy cooperative surgery based on the preoperative diagnosis of glomus tumor of the stomach. The final histological diagnosis confirmed the preoperative diagnosis. Although preoperative diagnosis of glomus tumor of the stomach is difficult with conventional images and endoscopic biopsy, endoscopic ultrasoundguided fine-needle aspiration biopsy is an essential tool to gain histological evidence of glomus tumor of the stomach for early diagnosis.

Endoscopic ultrasound fine needle aspiration vs fine needle biopsy in solid lesions:A multi-center analysis

BACKGROUND While endoscopic ultrasound(EUS)-guided fine needle aspiration(FNA)is considered a preferred technique for tissue sampling for solid lesions,fine needle biopsy(FNB)has recently been developed.AIM To compare the accuracy of FNB vs FNA in determining the diagnosis of solid lesions.METHODS A retrospective,multi-center study of EUS-guided tissue sampling using FNA vs FNB needles.Measured outcomes included diagnostic test characteristics(i.e.,sensitivity,specificity,accuracy),use of rapid on-site evaluation(ROSE),and adverse events.Subgroup analyses were performed by type of lesion and diagnostic yield with or without ROSE.A multivariable logistic regression was also performed.RESULTS A total of 1168 patients with solid lesions(n=468 FNA;n=700 FNB)underwent EUS-guided sampling.Mean age was 65.02±12.13 years.Overall,sensitivity,specificity and accuracy were superior for FNB vs FNA(84.70%vs 74.53%;99.29%vs 96.62%;and 87.62%vs 81.55%,respectively;P<0.001).On subgroup analyses,sensitivity,specificity,and accuracy of FNB alone were similar to FNA+ROSE[(81.66%vs 86.45%;P=0.142),(100%vs 100%;P=1.00)and(88.40%vs 85.43%;P=0.320].There were no difference in diagnostic yield of FNB alone vs FNB+ROSE(P>0.05).Multivariate analysis showed no significant predictor for better accuracy.On subgroup analyses,FNB was superior to FNA for non-pancreatic lesions;however,there was no difference between the techniques among pancreatic lesions.One adverse event was reported in each group.CONCLUSION FNB is superior to FNA with equivalent diagnostic test characteristics compared to FNA+ROSE in the diagnosis of non-pancreatic solid lesions.Our results suggest that EUS-FNB may eliminate the need of ROSE and should be employed as a first-line method in the diagnosis of solid lesions.

Improved diagnostic yield of endoscopic ultrasound-fine needle biopsy with histology specimen processing

BACKGROUND Endoscopic ultrasound-guided fine needle biopsy(EUS-FNB)has emerged as a safe,efficacious alternative to fine needle aspiration(FNA)for tissue acquisition.EUS-FNB is reported to have higher diagnostic yield while preserving specimen tissue architecture.However,data on the optimal method of EUS-FNB specimen processing is limited.AIM To evaluate EUS-FNB with specimen processing as histology vs EUS-FNA cytology with regards to diagnostic yield and specimen adequacy.METHODS All EUS-FNA and EUS-FNB performed at our institution from July 1,2016,to January 31,2018,were retrospectively analyzed.We collected data on demographics,EUS findings,pathology,clinical outcomes,and procedural complications in two periods,July 2016 through March 2017,and April 2017 through January 2018,with predominant use of FNB in the second data collection time period.FNA specimens were processed as cytology with cell block technique and reviewed by a cytopathologist;FNB specimens were fixed in formalin,processed for histopathologic analysis and immunohistochemical staining,and reviewed by an anatomic pathologist.Final diagnosis was based on surgical pathology when available,repeat biopsy or imaging,and length of clinical follow up.RESULTS One hundred six EUS-FNA and EUS-FNB procedures were performed.FNA alone was performed in 17 patients;in 56 patients,FNB alone was done;and in 33 patients,both FNA and FNB were performed.For all indications,diagnostic yield was 47.1%(8/17)in FNA alone cases,85.7%(48/56)in FNB alone cases,and 84.8%(28/33)in cases where both FNA and FNB were performed(P=0.0039).Specimens were adequate for pathologic evaluation in 52.9%(9/17)of FNA alone cases,in 89.3%(50/56)of FNB alone cases,and 84.8%(28/33)in cases where FNA with FNB were performed(P=0.0049).Tissue could not be aspirated for cytology in 10.0%(5/50)of cases where FNA was done,while in 3.4%(3/89)of FNB cases,tissue could not be obtained for histology.In patients who underwent FNA with FNB,there was a statistically significant difference in both specimen adequacy(P=0.0455)and diagnostic yield(P=0.0455)between the FNA and FNB specimens(processed correspondingly as cytology or histology).CONCLUSION EUS-FNB has a higher diagnostic yield and specimen adequacy than EUS-FNA.In our experience,specimen processing as histology may have contributed to the overall increased diagnostic yield of EUS-FNB.

Needle tract seeding of papillary thyroid carcinoma after fine-needle capillary biopsy:A case report

BACKGROUND Fine-needle biopsy is an accurate and cost-efficient tool for the assessment of thyroid nodules.It includes two primary methods:Fine-needle capillary biopsy(FNCB)and fine-needle aspiration biopsy.Needle tract seeding(NTS)is a rare complication of thyroid fine-needle biopsy mainly caused by fine-needle aspiration biopsy rather than FNCB.Here,we present an extremely rare case of a papillary thyroid carcinoma(PTC)patient with FNCB-derived NTS.CASE SUMMARY We report a 32-year-old woman with PTC who showed subcutaneous NTS 1 year after FNCB and thyroidectomy.NTS was diagnosed based on clinical manifestations,biochemistry indices,and imaging(computed tomography and ultrasound).Pathological identification of PTC metastases consistent with the puncture path is the gold standard for diagnosis.Surgical resection was the main method used to treat the disease.After surgery,thyroid function tests and ultrasound scans were performed every 3-6 mo.To date,no evidence of tumor recurrence has been observed.CONCLUSION FNCB is a safe procedure as NTS is rare,and can be easily removed surgically with no recurrence.Accordingly,NTS should not limit the usefulness of FNCB.