Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 14, 2026
DIPLOMA Approach for Standardized Pathology Assessment of Distal Pancreatectomy Specimens
Published on: February 1, 2020
Assessment of pancreatic neoplasms: review of biopsy techniques
Steven B Goldin1, Michael W Bradner, Emmanuel E Zervos
1Department of Surgery, Tampa General Hospital, University of South Florida, Davis Island, Tampa, FL 33601, USA. sgoldin@hsc.usf.edu
Abstract:
Pancreatic cancer is the 4th leading cause of cancer death annually. Recent technological advances in imaging have led to non-uniformity in the evaluation of pancreatic neoplasms. The following article describes the history behind various biopsy techniques and the rationale for obtaining a biopsy of a pancreatic neoplasm and discusses the benefits and disadvantages of the various pancreatic biopsy techniques, including fine needle aspiration biopsy, Tru-cut needle biopsy, endoscopic brushings/cytology, and endoscopic ultrasound guided biopsies. A treatment algorithm for pancreatic neoplasms is then presented.