Endoscopic Ultrasound and fine needle aspiration (EUS-FNA) in the diagnosis of pancreatic neoplasm

Endoscopic ultrasound-guided fine needle aspiration (EUS-FNA) has become an essential tool for the diagnosis and staging of pancreatic neoplasm. It is a procedure with low complication rates that has a major impact in the final treatment of these tumors. Methods: A retrospective analysis of patients referred for EUS-FNA with presumed malignant pancreatic neoplasm between January 2008 and December 2009. Results: 36 patients were studied. 58.30% (n=21) female. Only 5.5% of the EUS-FNA was omitted because they were in stage IV at the time of exploration. Solid tumors were evident in 80.5%. According to their histology, adenocarcinoma were reported in 47.05% (n=16), mucinous cystadenoma in 8.88% (n=3), cystadenocarcinoma in 5.88% (n=2), non-Hodgkin lymphoma in 5.88% (n=2), neuroendocrine tumor (insulinoma) in 2.94% (n=1), serous cystoadenoma in 2.94% (n=1), solid pseudopapillary tumor in 2.94% (n=1), metastatic tumor 2.94% (n=1) and 17.64% (n=6) were reported negative for malignancy. There were no complications associated with the procedure. Conclusions: The findings obtained by EUS-FNA make diagnosis possible in a high percentage of tumoral lesions of the pancreas, with no procedural complication rates overall in this study. Consequently, the accurate histological diagnosis will have the potential to affect the selection of an appropriate treatment.