title: Pancreatic masses: a multi-institutional study of 364 fine-needle aspiration biopsies with histopathologic correlation.
abstract: Only 15% of primary malignant tumors are confined to the gland at the time of presentation. Fine-needle aspiration (FNA) is valuable in confirming the malignant nature of these unresectable lesions. Benign pancreatic lesions and metastatic neoplasms can also be evaluated by fine-needle aspiration. We undertook a retrospective study to evaluate the efficacy of FNA in assessing pancreatic masses. Three hundred and sixty-four radiologically guided FNAs of the pancreas performed between 1986-1996 were reviewed. Surgical material was also evaluated when available and compared to the FNA material. There were 223 men and 141 women. Their ages ranged from 23-90, with a mean of 64 yr. Two hundred and twelve patients (58%) had primary malignant tumors, 183 had adenocarcinomas, 15 had mucinous cystadenocarcinomas, 12 had neuroendocrine tumors, and 2 had pleomorphic giant-cell carcinomas. Ninety-one (43%) had available surgical material which showed adenocarcinoma. Ninety-one patients (25%) had benign aspirates, including 53 showing benign ductal epithelium, 23 showing pancreatitis/inflammation. 10 showing pseudocysts, and 7 showing serous cystadenomas. Surgical material was available in 24 (26%) of these patients. Two of these showed adenocarcinoma. Sixteen aspirates (4%) were suspicious for malignancy, 13 (81%) of which showed adenocarcinoma on follow-up biopsies. Twenty-two aspirates (6%) showed metastatic neoplasms. Twenty-three (6%) had unsatisfactory specimens. Ten (43%) of these had follow-up biopsies, 3 of which were malignant. FNA of primary benign and malignant pancreatic masses is highly sensitive (98%) and specific (100%). Eighty-one percent of the suspicious lesions showed adenocarcinoma on follow-up biopsy. FNA of metastatic neoplasms to the pancreas is also very accurate. This technique can be useful in avoiding unnecessary surgery.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, Rush-Presbyterian-St. Luke's Medical Center, Chicago, Illinois 60612, USA. odavid@sispro.sis.rpslmc.edu
authors.forename: O
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: David
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Green
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Reddy
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Kluskens
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Bitterman
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Attal
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Prinz
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Gattuso
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001707:Biopsy, Needle; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010179:Pancreas / Q000473:pathology*; D010190:Pancreatic Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology* / Q000556:secondary*; D012189:Retrospective Studies