Initial experience with a new laparoscopic ultrasound probe for guided biopsy in the staging of upper gastrointestinal cancer.
BACKGROUND
Until recently, laparoscopic ultrasound (LUS)-guided biopsy has been difficult with the available probes on the market. This study aimed to present a new laparoscopic ultrasound probe (Hitachi, EUP-OL531) for guided biopsy and describe its impact on the clinical outcome for patients with upper gastrointestinal (UGI) cancer.


METHODS
Patients referred with confirmed UGI cancer from June 2003 to December 2006 were included in the study. After a standard workup including computed tomography, endoscopic ultrasound, and ultrasound of the neck, operable patients underwent LUS with or without fine-needle aspiration (FNA).


RESULTS
From a total of 175 patients, 19 (11%) underwent LUS-guided FNA after a significant lesion was found. The LUS-guided FNA confirmed distant metastasis in 14 of the 19 patients and changed the clinical management for these 14 patients (8%). There were no adverse events due to LUS or LUS-guided FNA.


CONCLUSIONS
The current results with the new LUS probe for guided FNA are encouraging in terms of its diagnostic ability, safety, and ease of use.
Hassan
Hazem
H
Gentofte Hospital, Copenhagen, Denmark. hazim@dadlnet.dk
Vilmann
Peter
P
Sharma
Vijay
V
Holm
Jakob
J
D000368:Aged; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D044963:Biopsy, Fine-Needle / Q000379:methods*; D002277:Carcinoma / Q000150:complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology / Q000556:secondary* / Q000601:surgery / Q000628:therapy; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D004867:Equipment Design; D004938:Esophageal Neoplasms / Q000150:complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery / Q000628:therapy; D004940:Esophageal Stenosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology; D004943:Esophagogastric Junction / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D010535:Laparoscopy / Q000379:methods*; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology / Q000556:secondary; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009339:Needles; D009361:Neoplasm Invasiveness / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D009367:Neoplasm Staging / Q000379:methods*; D010166:Palliative Care; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011446:Prospective Studies; D015607:Stents; D013274:Stomach Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery / Q000628:therapy; D018084:Ultrasonography, Interventional / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods
D000970:Antineoplastic Agents