title: Endoscopic ultrasound-guided fine-needle biopsy of small solid pancreatic lesions using a 22-gauge needle with side fenestration.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Early detection of small pancreatic cancer is important because expected survival is markedly better for tumors ≤ 2 cm. A new endoscopic ultrasound-(EUS) guided biopsy needle with side fenestration has been recently developed to enable fine-needle biopsy (FNB) under EUS guidance. The aim of this study was to evaluate the outcome of EUS-FNB using a 22-gauge ProCore needle in solid pancreatic lesions ≤ 2 cm, in terms of diagnostic accuracy and yield.
  
  
  METHODS
  From January 2011 to December 2012, all consecutive EUS-guided tissue sampling of small pancreatic lesions (≤ 2 cm) were performed using 22-gauge ProCore needles; the data of these patients were analyzed retrospectively.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Sixty-eight patients with a mean age of 65.7 years were included. The mean lesion size was 16.5 mm (range 5-20). None of the patients developed complications. On pathological examination, the tissue retrieved was judged adequate in 58 out of 68 cases (85.3 %) and the presence of a tissue core was recorded in 36 out of 68 cases (52.9 %). The overall sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, negative predictive value, and accuracy were 80, 100, 100, 40, and 82 %, respectively.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our results suggested that EUS-FNB of small pancreatic lesions using a 22-gauge ProCore needle is effective and safe, and supports our hypothesis that EUS-FNB is highly useful in establishing the nature of small pancreatic lesions.
authors.affiliation: Unit of Gastroenterology and Digestive Endoscopy, AUSL Bologna Bellaria-Maggiore Hospital, Via Altura, 40139, Bologna, Italy, carlo.fabbri@ausl.bologna.it.
authors.forename: Carlo
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Fabbri
authors.forename: Carmelo
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Luigiano
authors.forename: Antonella
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Maimone
authors.forename: Ilaria
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Tarantino
authors.forename: Paola
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Baccarini
authors.forename: Adele
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Fornelli
authors.forename: Rosa
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Liotta
authors.forename: Annamaria
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Polifemo
authors.forename: Luca
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Barresi
authors.forename: Mario
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Traina
authors.forename: Clara
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Virgilio
authors.forename: Vincenzo
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Cennamo
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D061765:Endoscopic Ultrasound-Guided Fine Needle Aspiration / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009339:Needles; D010179:Pancreas / Q000473:pathology*; D010190:Pancreatic Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity