title: Endoscopic ultrasonography-guided fine-needle aspiration biopsy of lymph nodes.
abstract: The recent introduction of convex linear array echoendoscopes equipped with a biopsy channel has made fine-needle aspiration biopsy (FNAB) under direct endosonographic guidance possible. Because the imaging and instrumentation planes overlap, the operator can visualize a biopsy needle lengthwise as it enters the sector-shaped sound field. We performed EUS-guided FNAB of lymph nodes in seven patients who met the following criteria: (1) Lymph node size over > 1 cm; (2) no endoscopic or endosonographic evidence for tumor involvement of bowel wall interposed between the lymph node and the transducer; and (3) absence of coagulopathy or thrombocytopenia. A positive tissue yield was obtained in six patients, of whom five had malignant cells identified on cytology. The patient with an inadequate yield had a dry aspirate, possibly related to prior irradiation treatment for esophageal carcinoma. No procedure-related complications were observed. We conclude that EUS-guided FNAB of lymph nodes is technically feasible, provides a high diagnostic yield, and appears to be safe. Further studies to determine the sensitivity and specificity of this novel procedure are warranted.
authors.affiliation: Department of Endoscopic Surgery, University Hospital Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany.
authors.forename: K F
authors.initials: KF
authors.lastname: Binmoeller
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Seifert
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Soehendra
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001707:Biopsy, Needle / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods; D004724:Endoscopy; D004867:Equipment Design; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008198:Lymph Nodes / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology*; D008206:Lymphatic Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis*; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis / Q000175:diagnosis; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D018084:Ultrasonography, Interventional