Accuracy and morphologic aspects of pancreatic and biliary duct brushings.
One hundred eight brushing cytology specimens with adequate follow-up were obtained from strictures of the biliary and pancreatic ducts. The material was classified as benign, reactive, low grade dysplasia, high grade dysplasia or adenocarcinoma. A diagnosis of carcinoma was made in 18 patients, high grade dysplasia in 12, low grade dysplasia in 6 and benign, nonneoplastic in the remaining cases. The diagnostic sensitivity for carcinoma was 44%, with a specificity of 98%. Ten of 12 patients with high grade dysplasia demonstrated other evidence of carcinoma. No complications were encountered. Brushing cytodiagnosis of extrahepatic biliary and pancreatic duct strictures appears to be a safe procedure, with high specificity but only modest sensitivity.
Department of Pathology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, North Carolina.
L J
LJ
Layfield
T D
TD
Wax
J G
JG
Lee
P B
PB
Cotton
D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000473:pathology; D001650:Bile Duct Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000473:pathology; D017734:Bile Ducts, Extrahepatic / Q000473:pathology*; D001706:Biopsy / Q000379:methods / Q000592:standards; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D006965:Hyperplasia / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000473:pathology; D010183:Pancreatic Ducts / Q000473:pathology*; D010190:Pancreatic Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000473:pathology