title: Percutaneous Pancreatic Biopsies-Still an Effective Method for Histologic Confirmation of Malignancy.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine the accuracy and safety of the percutaneous biopsy of pancreatic mass lesions.
  
  
  METHODS
  Over a 12-year period clinical parameters, imaging, pathologic results, and complications were assessed in patients undergoing percutaneous biopsies pancreatic lesions.
  
  
  RESULTS
  One hundred fifty-three patients underwent pancreatic biopsy. The preferred modality for performing the biopsy was ultrasound (93%, n=143) followed by computerized tomography (7%, n=10). Histologic diagnosis was achieved in 147 patients, of which 3 (2%) were benign and 144 (94%) were malignant. Complications included a single death from overwhelming hemorrhage and 2 patients with morbidity (hematoma and cerebrovascular accident). The sensitivity and specificity of percutaneous biopsies was 90% and 95%, respectively.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Ultrasound-guided and computerized tomographic-guided percutaneous biopsy of pancreatic lesions is an effective and safe method to confirm or refute malignancy in suspicious pancreatic lesions. Endoscopic ultrasound-guided Tru-Cut may have the added advantage of avoiding the risk of peritoneal soiling.
authors.affiliation: Departments of *HPB Surgery †Radiology ‡Surgery, Leicester General Hospital, Leicester, UK.
authors.forename: Imran
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Bhatti
authors.forename: Dotun
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Ojo
authors.forename: Ashley R
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: Dennison
authors.forename: Yvonne
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Rees
authors.forename: Mosheir
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Elabassy
authors.forename: Giuseppe
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Garcea
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001707:Biopsy, Needle / Q000379:methods; D061765:Endoscopic Ultrasound-Guided Fine Needle Aspiration / Q000379:methods; D006801:Humans; D061705:Image-Guided Biopsy / Q000379:methods; D008875:Middle Aged; D010179:Pancreas / Q000473:pathology*; D010190:Pancreatic Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D018084:Ultrasonography, Interventional / Q000379:methods