title: Preliminary experience with a new cytology brush in EUS-guided FNA.
abstract: 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.
authors: Department of Gastro-Hepatology, Molinette Hospital, Torino, Italy.
authors: Mauro
authors: M
authors: Bruno
authors: Martino
authors: M
authors: Bosco
authors: Patrizia
authors: P
authors: Carucci
authors: Donatella
authors: D
authors: Pacchioni
authors: Alessandro
authors: A
authors: Repici
authors: Lavinia
authors: L
authors: Mezzabotta
authors: Rinaldo
authors: R
authors: Pellicano
authors: Maurizio
authors: M
authors: Fadda
authors: Giorgio Maria
authors: GM
authors: Saracco
authors: Gianni
authors: G
authors: Bussolati
authors: Mario
authors: M
authors: Rizzetto
authors: Claudio
authors: C
authors: De Angelis
mesh_terms: 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