Evaluation of endoscopic ultrasonography guided fine needle aspiration biopsy of submucosal lesions

Objective:To determine the value of endoscopic ultrasonograpy guided fine needle aspiration biopsy for the diagnosis of submucosal tumors in stomach. Methods : We found 42 patients with upper gastrointestinal tract solid submucosal lesions by endoscopies. endoscopic ultrasonograpy was performed to assess the lesions arised from the specific layer of the wall and the lymph node metastasis. After excluding extrinsic normal tissues compressing the gastrointestinal tract, endoscopic ultrasonography guided fine needle aspiration biopsy were carried out. Results: Among these patients four were extrinsic normal tissues compressing the gastrointestinal tract and all other 38 patients were examined by endoscopic ultrasonography guided fine needle aspiration biopsy. endoscopic ultrasonography guided fine needle aspiration biopsy failed in 5 patients. Among the other 33 patients, cytology, pathology and immunohistochemistry demonstrated 4 malignant stromal tumors, 19 benign stromal tumors, 5 ectopic pancreases in stomach, 2 lipomas, 2 cysts in gastric fundus, 1 varice. The results of endoscopic ultrasonography guided fine needle aspiration biopsy were validated by surgery and clinical follow-up. Conclusion: endoscopic ultrasonography guided fine needle aspiration biopsy is a safe and accurate method for diagnosis of submucosal lesions.