LATEST METHODS AND RAPID ON-SITE EVALUATION DURING ENDOSCOPIC ULTRASOUND-GUIDED FINE NEEDLE ASPIRATION

Abstract

Endoscopic ultrasound-guided fine needle aspiration (EUS-FNA) is an established tool for definitive diagnosis of pancreatic/peripancreatic lesion, lymphadenopathy, and submucosal tumor, and is now widely performed at Japanese community hospitals. However, endosonographers sometimes face difficulties in obtaining adequate material, which is a major reason that pathologists cannot make a definitive diagnosis. Although acquisition of reliable methods of detecting the lesion, puncturing the lesion, and processing specimens is important, introduction of rapid on-site evaluation during EUS-FNA is essential to improve its diagnostic validity.