title: Cytopathology of the pancreatobiliary tract-the agony, and sometimes, the ease of it.
abstract: Pancreatic cytopathology is recognized as a rapid, reliable, safe and cost-beneficial modality of investigation of pancreatic mass lesions. Optimal cytodiagnosis depends on multiple factors including sample quality, and expertise of the cytopathologist and endoscopist. This article discusses key cytologic features of specific tumor types, specimen handling, differential diagnoses and pitfalls.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Loma Linda University Medical Center, Loma Linda, California, USA.
authors.forename: Rachel
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Conrad
authors.forename: Shobha
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Castelino-Prabhu
authors.forename: Camilla
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Cobb
authors.forename: Anwar
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Raza
keywords: Cytology; biliary tract; brush cytology; endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography; endoscopic ultrasound; fine needle aspiration; pancreas