title: Endoscopic Ultrasound-Guided Fine-Needle Aspiration of Pancreatic Lesions: A Systematic Review of Technical and Procedural Variables.
abstract: Endoscopic ultrasound (EUS)-guided tissue acquisition has emerged over the last decade as an invaluable diagnostic tool in approaching the different pancreatic lesions. Given the safety and minimal invasiveness of this approach combined with the high diagnostic yield, it became the standard of care when dealing with different pancreatic pathologies. However, some variables regarding this procedure remain not fully understood. These can influence the diagnostic yield of the procedure and include the presence of the on-site cytopathologist, the type and size of the needle used as well as obtaining aspiration versus core biopsy, the number of passes and the sampling technique, and the role of suction and stylet use among others. We performed a comprehensive literature search using PubMed, Google Scholar, and Embase for studies that assessed these variables. Eligible studies were analyzed using several parameters such as technique and procedure, with the aim of reviewing results from an evidence-based standpoint.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Gastroenterology, University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, Kansas, USA.
authors.forename: Bhairvi S
authors.initials: BS
authors.lastname: Jani
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Gastroenterology, University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, Kansas, USA.
authors.forename: Fadi
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Rzouq
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Gastroenterology, University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, Kansas, USA.
authors.forename: Shreyas
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Saligram
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Gastroenterology, University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, Kansas, USA.
authors.forename: Diego
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Lim
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Gastroenterology, University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, Kansas, USA.
authors.forename: Amit
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Rastogi
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Gastroenterology, University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, Kansas, USA.
authors.forename: John
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Bonino
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Gastroenterology, University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, Kansas, USA.
authors.forename: Mojtaba
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Olyaee
keywords: Cytopathology; endoscopic ultrasound (EUS); fine-needle aspiration (FNA); fine-needle biopsy (FNB); pancreatic lesions