Preliminary experience with a new cytology brush in EUS-guided FNA.
BACKGROUND
Despite the high diagnostic yield of EUS-guided FNA, room for technical improvements remains. Recently, the EchoBrush (Cook Endoscopy, Winston-Salem, NC), a disposable cytologic brush, was introduced to the market. To date, only 1 study, limited to 10 pancreatic cyst cases, using this device has been published.


OBJECTIVE
To assess the diagnostic yield of the EchoBrush in a cohort of consecutive patients, irrespective of the target lesion.


METHODS
Case series.


METHODS
Tertiary care university hospital (Molinette Hospital, Turin, Italy).


METHODS
Thirty-nine consecutive patients (12 with solid pancreatic masses, 12 with pancreatic cysts, 7 with enlarged lymph nodes, and 8 with submucosal masses) were enrolled.


METHODS
The material collected with the EchoBrush and with a standard FNA needle was double-blind evaluated by 2 cytopathologists.


METHODS
Adequacy of the sample and sensitivity and specificity of the EchoBrush method.


RESULTS
Adequate material for cytologic analysis was collected in 17 of 39 patients (43.6%) with a single pass of the EchoBrush. Results were better for pancreatic lesions (for solid and cystic lesions, the adequacy was 58.3% and 50%, respectively); adequacy was low (28.6% and 25%, respectively) for lymph nodes and submucosal masses. The overall sensitivity and specificity were 57.9% and 31.2%, respectively. There were no adverse events with the procedure.


CONCLUSIONS
Preliminary study.


CONCLUSIONS
This report suggests that the EchoBrush may provide adequate cellularity to diagnose solid and cystic pancreatic lesions. More extensive studies are needed to compare the EchoBrush and standard needles.
Bruno
Mauro
M
Department of Gastro-Hepatology, Molinette Hospital, Torino, Italy.
Bosco
Martino
M
Carucci
Patrizia
P
Pacchioni
Donatella
D
Repici
Alessandro
A
Mezzabotta
Lavinia
L
Pellicano
Rinaldo
R
Fadda
Maurizio
M
Saracco
Giorgio Maria
GM
Bussolati
Gianni
G
Rizzetto
Mario
M
De Angelis
Claudio
C
D044963:Biopsy, Fine-Needle / Q000295:instrumentation*; D003584:Cytological Techniques / Q000295:instrumentation*; D004209:Disposable Equipment; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D019160:Endosonography; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010181:Pancreatic Cyst / Q000473:pathology; D010190:Pancreatic Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity