Aspects of percutaneous fine-needle aspiration biopsy in the diagnosis of pancreatic carcinoma

Ultrasound-guided percutaneous fine-needle aspiration of solid pancreatic neoplasms: 10-year experience with more than 2,000 cases and a review of the literature

OBJECTIVES

To evaluate the diagnostic accuracy and complication rate of percutaneous ultrasound-guided fine-needle aspiration (US-FNA) of solid pancreatic neoplasms through the analysis of 10-year experiences of two centres.

METHODS

Clinical, radiological and pathologic data of 2,024 patients with solid pancreatic masses who underwent US-FNAs were retrospectively evaluated. Indications for aspiration were: unresectable lesions before neo-adjuvant therapy; doubtful imaging findings; and suspicion of uncommon neoplasms with prognostic or therapeutic implications such as metastases or lymphoma. US-FNAs were performed using aspiration needles with a cytopathologist present in centre 1. In centre 2, cytologic samples were collected with Chiba needles and separately evaluated by a cytopathologist.

RESULTS

US-FNA had a diagnostic sample rate of 92.2 % (centre 1: 95.9 %; centre 2: 87.2 %). US-FNA repetition after non-diagnostic samples provided a diagnosis in 86.3 % of cases. Sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive values, and accuracy were 98.7 %, 100 %, 100 %, 75.5 %, and 98.7 %, respectively. The complication rate was 0.8 %.

CONCLUSIONS

Percutaneous US-FNA is a sensitive, accurate and safe method for the invasive diagnosis of solid pancreatic neoplasms. The use of aspiration needles and the on-site presence of a cytopathologist may lead to a high rate of diagnostic samples, thus reducing the need for US-FNA repetition.

KEY POINTS

• Percutaneous ultrasound-guided fine-needle aspiration of pancreatic neoplasms is sensitive and accurate. • The short-term complication rate of percutaneous ultrasound-guided fine-needle aspiration is low. • Technical aspects may influence the rate of diagnostic samples.

Preoperative tissue diagnosis for tumours of the pancreas

BACKGROUND

Preoperative biopsy of pancreatic lesions suspected of malignancy is controversial.

METHODS

A systematic Medline literature search was carried out. Diagnostic studies reporting quantitative preoperative pancreatic biopsy data were evaluated.

RESULTS

The analysis included 53 studies, mostly of a retrospective nature. Despite acceptable rates for sensitivity and specificity, the negative predictive value of percutaneous and endoscopic ultrasonography-guided biopsies was 60-70 per cent. Biopsy results were considered to be essential for directing non-surgical therapy in advanced disease. However, they were of limited value in planning the treatment of resectable solid or cystic tumours, or focal lesions in the setting of chronic pancreatitis.

CONCLUSIONS

Biopsy of suspected pancreatic malignancies with systemic spread or local irresectability is indicated for planning palliative or neoadjuvant therapy. Preoperative biopsy of potentially resectable pancreatic tumours is not generally advisable, as malignancy cannot be ruled out with adequate reliability.

Ultrasound-guided percutaneous pancreatic tumor biopsy in pancreatic cancer: a comparison with metastatic liver tumor biopsy, including sensitivity, specificity, and complications

BACKGROUND

The aims of this study were to investigate the diagnostic value and safety of ultrasound-guided percutaneous pancreatic tumor biopsy (pancreatic biopsy) in patients with suspected unresectable pancreatic cancer, and to compare the data with those obtained by metastatic liver tumor biopsy (liver metastases biopsy).

METHODS

Data were collected retrospectively from 388 patients (398 procedures) for whom a final diagnosis was available and who underwent ultrasound-guided pancreatic or liver metastases biopsy with a 21-gauge needle (core biopsy) or a 22-gauge needle (fine-needle aspiration biopsy: FNAB). The sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy of pancreatic and liver metastases biopsies were evaluated. Biopsy-related complications were collected and analyzed.

RESULTS

Data from 271 pancreatic and 112 liver metastases biopsy procedures were available. For pancreatic core biopsy and FNAB, the sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy were 93%, 100%, and 93%, and 86%, 100%, and 86%, respectively, all of which were comparable to those of liver metastases biopsy. The complication rate in pancreatic biopsy was 21.4%, including a 4.4% incidence of post-biopsy ephemeral fever. The complication rate in liver metastases biopsy was 38.7%, including an 8.0% incidence of ephemeral fever. Fever and infection occurred more frequently among patients who underwent liver metastases biopsy (4.4% vs. 11%: P = 0.038). In pancreatic biopsy cases, a prebiopsy high serum total bilirubin level was a statistically significant predictor of ephemeral fever.

CONCLUSIONS

Ultrasound-guided percutaneous pancreatic biopsy is an effective and safe modality for confirming the pathologic diagnosis in patients with unresectable pancreatic cancer.

Utility of endoscopic ultrasound, cytology and fluid carcinoembryonic antigen and CA 19-9 levels in pancreatic cystic lesions

AIM: To assess the diagnostic accuracy of endoscopic ultrasound (EUS), fluid tumor markers and cytology in distinguishing benign from (pre)malignant pancreatic cystic lesions.

METHODS: 46 consecutive patients, referred to a gastroenterologist and surgeon for a symptomatic or incidental pancreatic cyst, were reviewed. EUS, cytology, and carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) and carbohydrate antigen (CA 19-9) levels were compared with the final diagnosis, based on surgical pathology and/or imaging follow-up of at least 12 mo. Cysts were classified as benign (pseudocyst, serous cystadenoma) or malignant/pre-malignant (mucinous cystic neoplasm). Receiver-operator characteristics (ROC) curve analysis was performed.

RESULTS: The mean age was 56 years; 29% were male and median cyst diameter was 3 cm. Final outcome was obtained in 41 (89%) patients. Twenty-three (56%) of these 41 had surgical pathology. Twenty-three (56%) had benign lesions and 18 (44%) had malignant/pre-malignant lesions. Sensitivity, specificity and positive and negative predictive value of EUS alone to distinguish benign from malignant/premalignant pancreatic cystic lesions were 50%, 56%, 36% and 54% and for cytology were 71%, 96%, 92% and 85%, respectively. The corresponding values for the ROC-derived ideal cutoffs were 75%, 90%, 75%, 90% for CA 19-9 (> 37 U/mL) and 70%, 85%, 79% and 78% for CEA (> 3.1 ng/mL). Subgroup analysis of those with surgical pathology yielded almost identical performance and cutoffs.

CONCLUSION: Cytology and cyst fluid tumor marker analysis is a very useful tool in distinguishing benign from (pre)malignant pancreatic cystic lesions.

Assessment of pancreatic neoplasms: review of biopsy techniques

Pancreatic cancer is the 4th leading cause of cancer death annually. Recent technological advances in imaging have led to non-uniformity in the evaluation of pancreatic neoplasms. The following article describes the history behind various biopsy techniques and the rationale for obtaining a biopsy of a pancreatic neoplasm and discusses the benefits and disadvantages of the various pancreatic biopsy techniques, including fine needle aspiration biopsy, Tru-cut needle biopsy, endoscopic brushings/cytology, and endoscopic ultrasound guided biopsies. A treatment algorithm for pancreatic neoplasms is then presented.

Fine-needle aspiration biopsy of solid pancreatic masses: comparison of CT and endoscopic sonography guidance

OBJECTIVE

Imaging-guided biopsies of solid pancreatic masses are performed with either CT or endoscopic sonography at our institution. We compared test characteristics of fine-needle aspiration biopsies guided using CT with those guided using endoscopic sonography and secondarily evaluated for an effect of mass size.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Of 70 solid pancreatic masses, 43 (mean size, 4.4 cm; range, 1.5-10.3 cm) underwent fine-needle (20- to 22-gauge) aspiration biopsy with CT guidance and 27 (mean size, 2.3 cm; range, 1.0-5.0 cm) underwent fine-needle (22-gauge) aspiration biopsy with endoscopic sonography guidance. The diagnostic rate, sensitivity, and negative predictive value (NPV) for each technique were compared using Fisher's exact test before and after stratifying masses by size as small (< or = 3 cm) or large (> 3 cm).

RESULTS

The overall diagnostic rate, sensitivity, and NPV of fine-needle aspiration biopsies guided using CT (97.7%, 94.9%, and 60%, respectively) were not significantly different from those guided using endoscopic sonography (88.9%, 85%, and 57.1%, respectively). Among small masses, the diagnostic rate and sensitivity for biopsies guided using CT (100% and 100%, respectively) were not significantly different from those for biopsies guided using endoscopic sonography (90.9% and 93.8%, respectively). Among large masses, the diagnostic rate and sensitivity (96.6% and 92.3%, respectively) for biopsies guided using CT were not significantly different from those for biopsies guided using endoscopic sonography (83.3% and 50%, respectively).

CONCLUSION

When biopsying solid pancreatic masses with fine needles, procedures guided with CT and those guided with endoscopic sonography have similar test characteristics regardless of mass size.

Evaluation of imaging-guided core biopsy of pancreatic masses

OBJECTIVE

The purpose of this study was to determine the sensitivity and accuracy of imaging-guided core biopsy in the diagnosis of pancreatic masses.

CONCLUSION

Imaging-guided core biopsy is sensitive, safe, and accurate in the diagnosis of malignant lesions of the pancreas. Benign biopsy findings cannot be used to exclude the presence of a neoplasm, and repetition of a biopsy should be considered if there is high clinical suspicion of malignancy.

Cancer in the elderly: pancreatic cancer

Pancreatic cancer remains a devastating and difficult disease to diagnose and successfully treat. Its incidence increases with age, with 60% of patients being over the age of 65 at presentation. Due to the insidious nature and asymptomatic onset of pancreatic cancer approximately 85% of patients present with disseminated or locally advanced disease resulting in a very poor prognosis. In the past the elderly patient, who may be felt to be too frail for operative procedures or further therapy, may have missed out on optimal treatment. In this article we review the investigation and treatment of pancreatic cancer and examine current evidence with regard to pancreatic cancer in the elderly. The evidence suggests that surgical resection can be performed safely in patients who are fit for surgery in specialist centres but may require more intensive post-operative rehabilitation.

Current standards of surgery for pancreatic cancer

Background

Pancreatic cancer carries a dismal prognosis but there has been a vast increase in evidence on its management in the past decade.

Methods

An electronic and manual search was performed for articles on the surgical treatment of pancreatic cancer published in the past 10 years.

Results

Six major areas of advancement were identified. Groups at high risk of developing pancreatic cancer, notably those with chronic pancreatitis and hereditary pancreatitis, have been defined, raising the need for secondary screening. Methods of staging pancreatic cancer for resection have greatly improved but accuracy is still only 85–90 per cent. Pylorus-preserving partial pancreatoduodenectomy without extended lymphadenectomy is the simplest procedure; it does not compromise long-term survival. Adjuvant chemotherapy significantly improves long-term survival. Patients who are free from major co-morbidity have better palliation by surgery (with a double bypass) than by endoscopy. High-volume centres improve the results of surgery for all outcome measures including long-term survival.

Conclusion

The surgical management of pancreatic cancer has undergone a significant change in the past decade. It has moved away from no active treatment. The standard of care can now be defined as potentially curative resection in a specialist centre followed by adjuvant systemic chemotherapy.

Telecytology of fine-needle aspiration biopsies of the pancreas: a study of well-differentiated adenocarcinoma and chronic pancreatitis with atypical epithelial repair changes

Four experienced cytopathologists provided consultations using telecytology and routine microscopy. Twenty-seven fine-needle aspiration biopsies (FNABs) from patients with chronic pancreatitis with atypical epithelial repair changes (n = 9) and pancreatic low-grade adenocarcinomas (LG-AC) (n = 18) were studied. False-positive and false-negative diagnostic rates were 19.4% and 12.5% by microscopy and 11.1% and 2.8% by telecytology. Comparisons of agreements between the correct diagnoses and consultations rendered by the two methods and among the diagnoses rendered on the same cases by the two modalities yielded kappa coefficients ranging from 0.444-1.000. Telecytology yielded slightly better kappa coefficients than microscopy. This method, which to our knowledge has not been previously applied to pancreatic FNAB, provides a potentially useful consultative tool for the interpretation of these difficult specimens. The diagnosis of FNAB from patients with chronic pancreatitis and LG-AC is difficult even for experienced consultants, as underscored by the considerable intraobserver and interobserver variability encountered in this study.

K-ras gene mutation in the diagnosis of ultrasound guided fine-needle biopsy of pancreatic masses

AIM: To investigate the utility of K-ras mutation analysis of ultrasound guided fine-needle aspirate biopsy of pancreatic masses.

METHODS: Sixty-six ultrasound guided fine-needle biopsies were evaluated by cytology, histology and K-ras mutation. The mutation at codon 12 of the K-ras oncogene was detected by artificial restriction fragment length polymorphisms using BstN I approach.

RESULTS: The presence of malignant cells was reported in 40 of 54 pancreatic carcinomas and K-ras mutations were detected in 45 of the 54 FNABs of pancreatic carcinomas. The sensitivity of cytology and K-ras mutation were 74% and 83%, respectively. The speciality of cytology and K-ras mutation were both 100%. The sensitivity and speciality of K-ras mutation combined with cytology were 83% and 100%, respectively.

CONCLUSION: High diagnostic accuracy with acceptable discomfort of FNAB make it useful in diagnosis of pancreatic carcinoma. Ultrasound guided fine-needle biopsy is a safe and feasible method for diagnosing pancreatic cancer. Pancreatic carcinoma has the highest K-ras mutation rate among all solid tumors. The mutation rate of K-ras is about 80%-100%. The usage of mutation of codon 12 of K-ras oncogene combined with cytology is a good alternative for evaluation of pancreatic masses.

Pancreatic tissue sampling guided by EUS, CT/US, and surgery: a comparison of sensitivity and specificity

BACKGROUND

Needle aspiration of the pancreas is performed to differentiate pancreatic malignancy, focal chronic pancreatitis, and metastasis to the pancreas. Biopsies may be directed by using EUS, CT, US, or surgery. This study retrospectively compared the accuracy of EUS-guided, CT/US-guided, and surgical tissue sampling of the pancreas over a 5-year period.

METHODS

The records of patients undergoing pancreatic tissue sampling were reviewed for a final clinical diagnosis based on the results of cytology, histology, and clinical history. The sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy of each technique were calculated.

RESULTS

One hundred forty-nine tissue samples (68 EUS-guided, 70 CT/US-guided, 11 surgical) from 128 patients were compared. There was no significant difference in accuracy rates for EUS (76.4%), CT/US (81.4%), and surgically guided (81.8%) specimens. EUS was used when masses were smaller (2.6 +/- 0.1 cm) as compared with CT/US (3.4 +/- 0.2 cm, p < 0.001) and surgery (2.9 +/- 0.4 cm, p = 0.49). In univariate analyses, factors associated with greater accuracy regardless of technique were as follows: (1) older age, (2) larger size of the mass, and (3) participation by a cytologist during the procedure. A subsequent multivariate logistic regression analysis, in which the examination of the effect of each factor controls for the effect of each of the other factors, found that only older age was a significant predictor of accuracy.

CONCLUSION

EUS-guided tissue sampling of pancreatic masses is as accurate as CT/US-guided sampling and surgical biopsies.

Surgical and medical therapy for pancreatic carcinoma

Progress on the treatment of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma has involved advances in medical and surgical care with important contributions from disciplines such as radiology and intensive care. In the last decade large randomized controlled trials have been undertaken that demonstrate the improved patient outcomes. There is an increased risk of pancreatic cancer in chronic pancreatitis, hereditary pancreatitis and a variety of familial cancer syndromes. The optimum outcome from pancreatic cancer needs management by multidisciplinary teams in regional specialist units. Endoscopic stenting, good pain relief and pancreatic enzyme supplementation are the basis of care in advanced pancreatic cancer. Chemotherapy prolongs survival in advanced pancreatic cancer with little to be gained using drugs other than 5FU. Resection, if possible, prolongs life and provides the best quality of life. Adjuvant chemoradiotherapy is of no benefit but chemotherapy may improve survival. Alongside the evolution in clinical management has been the elucidation of the molecular events that underlie pancreatic cancer and this knowledge has guided the introduction of targeted treatments for pancreatic cancer.

Echo-enhanced color- and power-Doppler EUS for the discrimination between focal pancreatitis and pancreatic carcinoma

BACKGROUND

EUS is a precise method for detection and staging of pancreatic tumors. However, differentiation between inflammatory pseudotumor and pancreatic carcinoma remains difficult. The aim of this study was to evaluate contrast-enhanced EUS as a method of differentiating inflammation and carcinoma based on perfusion characteristics.

METHODS

Patients with solid pancreatic masses underwent EUS with a linear echoendoscope. Perfusion in the pancreatic tissue and the mass was assessed with native and contrast-enhanced EUS with power- and color-Doppler imaging. Examinations were evaluated by a blinded reader. A markedly hyperperfused lesion was considered an inflammatory pseudotumor whereas lesions that were hypoperfused compared with surrounding tissue were considered to be carcinoma.

RESULTS

Fifteen of 23 patients had hypoperfusion within the mass and 8 patients had hyperperfused lesions. Of the 15 patients with hypoperfused masses, all had pancreatic adenocarcinoma; 1 of 8 patients with a hyperperfused lesion also had adenocarcinoma. The remaining 7 patients had focal inflammation. Sensitivity for differentiation of pancreatic carcinoma versus inflammatory changes was 94%, specificity 100%.

CONCLUSION

Echo-enhanced power-Doppler EUS reliably differentiates pancreatic neoplasm and focal pancreatitis. The diagnostic accuracy of this technique is comparable to CT, magnetic resonance imaging, positron emission tomography, and ERCP.

Jaundice caused by a pancreatic mass: an exceptional presentation of Crohn's disease

It is well known that Crohn's disease can involve the pancreas. However, granulomatous inflammation of the pancreas causing jaundice is extremely rare. In this report, we describe a patient presenting with jaundice in whom a Whipple procedure was performed because of the suspicion of a malignant pancreatic tumor. However, on histologic examination a benign granulomatous pancreatic mass was found. Further investigations revealed no other organ involvement and no underlying disease could be identified. Therefore, the tentative diagnosis of an idiopathic inflammatory pseudotumor was made. Only 6 months later, when the patient developed bloody diarrhea, Crohn's disease was diagnosed. This case stresses that, especially in young patients, Crohn's disease should be included in the differential diagnosis of benign common bile duct strictures even if no other symptoms of Crohn's disease are present.

New directions in systemic therapy of pancreatic cancer

BACKGROUND

The aggressiveness of pancreatic adenocarcinoma makes it a deadly disease, with its incidence rate and fatality rate almost equal. Surgery represents the only means to provide cure to patients with pancreatic cancer, though the 5-year survival is less than 10%.

METHODS

We review the data on surgical and systemic therapies and provide more details on a newer biologically based medical approach.

RESULTS

Neoadjuvant chemotherapy protocols are confined to one or two institutions, and adjuvant chemotherapy and chemoradiation therapy protocols are far from being standardized. Chemoradiation therapy for locally advanced pancreatic cancer offers limited benefits. Protocols that include gemcitabine and 5-fluorouracil, while comparing favorably to historical controls, offer median survivals at approximately 8 months.

CONCLUSIONS

More effective protocols with combinations of approaches agents are needed to improve the treatment of pancreatic cancer.

Pancreatic cancer: a continuum of care

OBJECTIVES

To provide information about the etiology, clinical manifestations, treatment, and symptom management of pancreatic cancer.

DATA SOURCES

Textbook chapters, research studies, and review articles.

CONCLUSIONS

Cancer of the pancreas is a devastating disease. A diagnosis of pancreatic cancer causes a person to consider both quantity as well as quality of life. Hope for improved quality of life and survival relies on the efforts of a co-operative multidisciplinary team approach.

IMPLICATIONS FOR NURSING PRACTICE

Numerous nursing challenges exist in providing care for the patient with pancreatic cancer. Treatment, symptom management, and psychological, social, and spiritual support are essential in meeting the needs of the patient and family through the eventuality of the disease.

K-ras point mutations in the supernatants of pancreatic juice and bile are reliable for diagnosis of pancreas and biliary tract carcinomas complementary to cytologic examination

In order to clarify whether DNA analysis for K-ras mutation can be used to diagnose cancers in supernatants of pancreatic juice and bile, samples from 29 cases of pancreatic, biliary tract, gastric, and neuroendocrine carcinomas, 1 malignant lymphoma case, 2 cases of pancreatic adenoma, 9 cases of chronic pancreatitis and 21 other non-cancer cases were examined. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) products for K-ras gene codons 2 to 97 of exons 1 and 2 were generated with 33/33 (100%) pancreatic juice and 41/41 (100%) bile samples. By the single strand conformation polymorphism (SSCP) method, point mutations were detected in the pancreatic juice or bile supernatants of 13/13 (100%) pancreas cancer cases, 5/14 (35.7%) biliary tract cancer cases, 1/2 (50.0%) pancreatic adenoma cases and 3/9 (33.3%) chronic pancreatitis cases. Direct sequencing confirmed identical point mutations in the supernatants, malignant cells of cytologic smears of pancreatic juice or bile and cancer tissues. The DNA analysis demonstrated the presence of K-ras point mutations in 3 cases of pancreatic carcinomas with false-negative cytologic diagnoses. This novel method allows simultaneous testing for genetic abnormalities in supernatants of pancreatic juice and bile, after removing cells for cytologic diagnosis and screening for pancreatic and biliary tract tumors.