title: A prospective comparison of EUS-guided FNA using 25-gauge and 22-gauge needles.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  There are limited data on the differences in diagnostic yield between 25-gauge and 22-gauge EUS-FNA needles. This prospective study compared the difference in diagnostic yield between a 22-gauge and a 25-gauge needle when performing EUS-FNA.
  
  
  METHODS
  Forty-three patients with intraluminal or extraluminal mass lesions and/or lymphadenopathy were enrolled prospectively. EUS-FNA was performed for each mass lesion using both 25- and 22-gauge needles. The differences in accuracy rate, scoring of needle visibility, ease of puncture and quantity of obtained specimen were evaluated.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The overall accuracy of 22- and 25-gauge needle was similar at 81% and 76% respectively (N.S). Likewise the visibility scores of both needles were also similar. Overall the quantity of specimen obtained higher with the 22-gauge needle (score: 1.64 vs. P < .001). However the 25-gauge needle was significantly superior to the 22-gauge needle in terms of ease of puncture (score: 1.9 vs. 1.29, P < .001) and in the quantity of specimen in the context of pancreatic mass EUS-FNA (score: 1.8 vs. 1.58, P < .05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The 22-gauge and 25-gauge needles have similar overall diagnostic yield. The 25-gauge needle appeared superior in the subset of patients with hard lesions and pancreatic masses.
authors.affiliation: Department of Endoscopy, The Jikei University School of Medicine, Tokyo 105-8461, Japan. himazu21@aol.com
authors.forename: Hiroo
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Imazu
authors.forename: Yujiro
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Uchiyama
authors.forename: Hiroshi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Kakutani
authors.forename: Kei-Ichi
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Ikeda
authors.forename: Kazuki
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Sumiyama
authors.forename: Mitsuru
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kaise
authors.forename: Salem
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Omar
authors.forename: Tiing Leong
authors.initials: TL
authors.lastname: Ang
authors.forename: Hisao
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Tajiri