Brisk bleeding after gastric lesion biopsy – possible needle tract seeding after endoscopic ultrasound-guided fine-needle biopsy of a pancreatic metastasis from renal cell carcinoma

A 62-year-old patient had undergone left-sided partial nephrectomy due to renal cell carcinoma. The postoperative tumor classification was pT1a, pNx, L0, V0, G2, R0.

The patient presented 6 years later with abdominal pain and unintended weight loss. Computed tomography (CT) imaging indicated multiple pancreatic lesions, therefore an endoscopic ultrasound (EUS)-guided transgastric fine-needle biopsy was performed using the Procore 19G needle (Cook Medical, Limerick, Ireland) ([Fig. 1]). Recurrence of the renal cell carcinoma was diagnosed. The tumor board decided for a pancreatectomy with splenectomy as there were no further metastases.

Fig. 1 Color-coded duplex endoscopic ultrasound (EUS) prior to EUS-guided fine-needle biopsy showed a hypoechoic mass with increased vascularity in the pancreatic body.

The patient was readmitted 6 months later because of neck swelling. The CT scan revealed a nodular goiter and a pneumomediastinum of unknown origin. Subsequent bronchoscopy and gastroscopy excluded perforation as the cause of the pneumomediastinum, which remained unclear. However, a mucosal lesion presenting an aberrant vascular pattern was detected on the posterior wall of the gastric body ([Fig. 2]). Forceps biopsy led to arterial bleeding ([Fig. 3]). An over-the-scope-clip (OTSC; Ovesco, Tübingen, Germany) was applied to control the bleeding ([Video 1]).

Fig. 2 Narrow-band imaging of the mucosal lesion on the posterior gastric wall presented an aberrant vascular pattern.

Fig. 3 Gastroscopic image of the arterial bleeding after forceps biopsy.

Video 1 Endoscopic ultrasound (EUS)-guided biopsy and bleeding management in a case of possible needle track seeding after EUS-guided fine-needle biopsy of pancreatic metastasis from renal cell carcinoma.

Histological examination showed a renal cell carcinoma underneath the gastric mucosa ([Fig. 4]). Since the location of the gastric lesion corresponded to the fine-needle biopsy site, it was most likely the procedure had caused needle tract seeding to the gastric wall. Because fine-needle biopsy of the nodular goiter also revealed metastases of the renal cell carcinoma, a thyroidectomy and gastric wedge-resection were performed ([Fig. 5]).

Fig. 4 Histological examination of the gastric biopsy revealed a clear cell renal cell carcinoma growing underneath the gastric mucosa.

Fig. 5 Intraoperative image during the gastric wedge resection showed the renal cell carcinoma metastasis caused by needle tract seeding.

Pancreatic metastases are rare, with a reported incidence varying from 1.6 % to 11 % [1]. The most common metastasis to the pancreas is renal cell carcinoma [2].

EUS-guided fine-needle biopsy is considered a safe technique with few adverse events. However, needle track seeding, although uncommon, is a serious adverse event that may impair patient’s outcome [3]. Considering the associated risk, EUS-guided fine-needle biopsy should be carried out only when the results obtained are useful for therapeutic decision-making [4], and the needle tract line should be placed within the surgical resection margins.

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Competing interests

The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

• References

• 1 Adsay NV, Andea A, Basturk O. et al. Secondary tumors of the pancreas: an analysis of a surgical and autopsy database and review of the literature. Virchows Archiv 2004; 444: 527-535
• 2 Smith AL, Odronic SI, Springer BS. et al. Solid tumor metastases to the pancreas diagnosed by FNA: a single-institution experience and review of the literature. Cancer Cytopathol 2015; 123: 347-355
• 3 Minaga K, Takenaka M, Katanuma A. et al. Needle tract seeding: an overlooked rare complication of endoscopic ultrasound-guided fine-needle aspiration. Oncology 2017; 93: 107-112
• 4 Fujii LL, Levy MJ. Basic techniques in endoscopic ultrasound-guided fine needle aspiration for solid lesions: adverse events and avoiding them. Endosc Ultrasound 2014; 3: 35-45

Publication History

Article published online:
09 August 2021