Triple modality testing by endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography for the diagnosis of cholangiocarcinoma.
OBJECTIVE
Brush cytology has a low sensitivity for the diagnosis of cholangiocarcinoma. This study aimed to compare the standard approach (brush cytology) with a triple modality approach utilizing brush cytology, forceps biopsy and fluorescence in situ hybridization in terms of sensitivity and specificity for the diagnosis of cholangiocarcinoma.


METHODS
In a retrospective study at a single academic center, 50 patients underwent triple modality testing. Additionally, 61 patients underwent brush cytology alone. Intervention was endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography with brush cytology, fluorescence in situ hybridization, and forceps biopsy. The main outcome measures included sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value and negative predictive value.


RESULTS
Overall, 50 patients underwent triple tissue sampling, and 61 patients underwent brush cytology alone. Twenty-two patients were eventually diagnosed with cholangiocarcinoma. Brush cytology had a sensitivity of 42%, specificity of 100%, positive predictive value of 100% and negative predictive value of 88%. Triple tissue sampling had an overall sensitivity of 82%, specificity of 100%, positive predictive value of 100%, and negative predictive value of 87%. Within the triple test group, brush cytology had a sensitivity of 27%, forceps biopsy had a sensitivity of 50%, and fluorescence in situ hybridization analysis had a sensitivity of 59%.


CONCLUSIONS
A triple modality approach results in a marked increase in sensitivity for the diagnosis of cholangiocarcinoma compared with single modality testing such as brush cytology and should be considered in the evaluation of indeterminate or suspicious biliary strictures.
Department of Medicine, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA.
Arjun
A
Nanda
Department of Medicine, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA.
Jason M
JM
Brown
Department of Medicine, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA.
Stephen H
SH
Berger
Department of Pathology, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA.
Melinda M
MM
Lewis
Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, Mayo Clinic College of Medicine, Rochester, MN, USA.
Emily G
EG
Barr Fritcher
Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Mayo Clinic College of Medicine, Rochester, MN, USA.
Gregory J
GJ
Gores
Department of Medicine, Division of Digestive Diseases, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA.
Steven A
SA
Keilin
Department of Medicine, Division of Digestive Diseases, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA.
Kevin E
KE
Woods
Department of Medicine, Division of Digestive Diseases, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA.
Qiang
Q
Cai
Emory University Hospital, 1364 Clifton Road, NE, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA.
Field F
FF
Willingham
brush cytology; cholangiocarcinoma; endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography; fluorescence in situ hybridization; forceps biopsy