EXPERIMENTAL AND CLINICAL STUDIES ON ENDOSCOPIC PANCREATIC BIOPSY

Abstract

We performed an endoscopic pancreatic biopsy without an endoscopic papillotomy, and its suf ety and utility were evaluated both experimentally and clinically. In the experimental study, the main pancreatic duct and the accesaory pancreatic duct were ligated to establish chronic occulusive pancreatic disturbance in mongrel dogs. Twelve months later, these animals were laparotomized under general anesthesia and tissue fragments were obtained from the main panereatic duct by means of a biopsy forceps. The obtained tissue consisted of the epithelium and the wall of the pancreatic duct. There was no development of pancreatic bleeding due to this biopsy. In the clinical study, endoscopic pancreatic biopsy (EPB) was performed in a total of 9 cases consisting of 6 cases of pancreatic cancer and 3 cases of chronic pancreatitis. None of the cases thus treated, developed complications such as pancreatitis or bleeding after the biopsy. The findings obtained for cases of chronic pancreatitis included goblet cell metanlasia, stratified proliferation and ductal cell hyperplasia. Four of 6 cases of pancreatic cancer were positive for malignant findings, and in one of these cases a conclusive diagnosis was established on the basis of the findings obtained in this examination. These findings indicate that this examination can be a safe and useful method which cause no complications.