Diagnostic yield of endoscopic ultrasound with fine-needle aspiration in pancreatic cystic lesions

Gastroenterol Hepatol. 2020 Jan;43(1):1-8. doi: 10.1016/j.gastrohep.2019.07.012. Epub 2019 Nov 18.
[Article in English, Spanish]

Abstract

Introduction: Despite advances in imaging techniques, in many cases they are insufficient to establish the diagnosis of pancreatic cystic lesions (PCL). There are few publications in our setting that evaluate the combination of several methods obtained by endoscopic ultrasound-guided fine needle aspiration (EUS-FNA). The aim of the study was to evaluate the overall utility of EUS-FNA in the diagnosis of PCL.

Material and methods: Retrospective study based on a database updated prospectively of a cohort of patients referred for EUS-FNA due to PCL detected in an imaging test. The sensitivity, specificity and diagnostic yield of carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA), cytology and viscosity were studied to detect mucinous lesions.

Results: From November 2013 to April 2018, 122 EUS were performed for PCL. EUS-FNA was performed in 94/122 (77%) and 21/122 (17.2%) patients were operated on. We included 33/122 patients who had diagnostic confirmation by histology, imaging (serous cyst with typical pattern) or clinical evolution. The study of the ROC curve determined the cutoff point ≥419 ng/ml to differentiate mucinous/non-mucinous cystic lesions. The diagnostic yield of CEA was 87.5% (21/24), cytology 81.8% (27/33) and viscosity 84.4% (27/32). The three parameters in combination obtained the best result (30/33, 90.9%).

Conclusion: The combination of CEA analysis, cytology and viscosity of pancreatic fluid obtained by EUS-FNA increases the performance in the diagnosis of mucinous pancreatic cystic lesions, with it being greater than 90%.

Keywords: Antígeno carcinoembrionario; Carcinoembryonic antigen; Citología; Cytology; Endoscopic ultrasound; Endoscopic ultrasound-guided fine needle aspiration; Lesiones premalignas; Lesiones quísticas pancreáticas; Pancreatic cystic lesions; Premalignant lesions; Punción aspirativa con aguja fina guiada mediante ultrasonografía endoscópica; Ultrasonografía endoscópica.

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Biomarkers / analysis
  • Carcinoembryonic Antigen / analysis
  • Carcinoma, Pancreatic Ductal / blood
  • Carcinoma, Pancreatic Ductal / diagnostic imaging
  • Carcinoma, Pancreatic Ductal / pathology
  • Cohort Studies
  • Endoscopic Ultrasound-Guided Fine Needle Aspiration* / statistics & numerical data
  • Female
  • GPI-Linked Proteins / analysis
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Mucins / chemistry
  • Pancreatic Cyst / blood
  • Pancreatic Cyst / diagnostic imaging
  • Pancreatic Cyst / pathology*
  • Pancreatic Cyst / surgery
  • Pancreatic Neoplasms / blood
  • Pancreatic Neoplasms / diagnostic imaging
  • Pancreatic Neoplasms / pathology
  • ROC Curve
  • Retrospective Studies
  • Sensitivity and Specificity
  • Viscosity

Substances

  • Biomarkers
  • CEACAM5 protein, human
  • Carcinoembryonic Antigen
  • GPI-Linked Proteins
  • Mucins