title: Endoscopic ultrasound guided fine needle aspiration biopsy in diagnosis of pancreatic and peripancreatic lesions: a single center experience in Korea.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Although endoscopic ultrasound guided fine needle aspiration (EUS-FNA) has been introduced and its use has been increasing in Korea, there have not been many reports about its performance. The aim of this study was to assess the utility of EUS-FNA without on-site cytopathologist in establishing the diagnosis of solid pancreatic and peripancreatic masses from a single institution in Korea.
  
  
  METHODS
  Medical records of 139 patients who underwent EUS-FNA for pancreatic and peripancreatic solid mass in the year 2007, were retrospectively reviewed. By comparing cytopathologic diagnosis of FNA with final diagnosis, sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy were determined, and factors influencing the accuracy as well as complications were analyzed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  One hundred twenty out of 139 cases had final diagnosis of malignancy. Sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy of EUS-FNA were 82%, 89%, and 83%, respectively, and positive and negative predictive values were 100% and 46%, respectively. As for factors influencing the accuracy of FNA, lesion size was marginally significant (p-value 0.08) by multivariate analysis.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  EUS-FNA performed without on-site cytopathologist was found to be accurate and safe, and thus EUS-FNA should be a part of the standard management algorithm for pancreatic and peripancreatic mass.
authors.affiliation: Division of Gastroenterology, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Asan Medical Center, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Chang Yun
authors.initials: CY
authors.lastname: Hwang
authors.forename: Sang Soo
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Tae Jun
authors.initials: TJ
authors.lastname: Song
authors.forename: Sung-Hoon
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Moon
authors.forename: Don
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Do Hyun
authors.initials: DH
authors.lastname: Park
authors.forename: Dong Wan
authors.initials: DW
authors.lastname: Seo
authors.forename: Sung Koo
authors.initials: SK
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Myung-Hwan
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Kim