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Updated: Apr 7, 2026
Author Spotlight: Advancing Biopsy Techniques with Transesophageal Ultrasound
Published on: November 21, 2023
Usefulness of endoscopic ultrasound-guided fine-needle aspiration with a forward-viewing and curved linear-array
Akane Yamabe1, Atsushi Irisawa1, Manoop S Bhutani2
1Department of Gastroenterology, Fukushima Medical University, Aizu Medical Center, Aizuwakamatsu, Japan.
Background And Study Aims:
It is difficult to perform endoscopic ultrasound-guided fine-needle aspiration (EUS-FNA) of small gastrointestinal (GI) subepithelial lesions (SELs) approximately 10 mm in diameter. This study was undertaken to evaluate the feasibility, safety, and diagnostic ability of EUS-FNA with a forward-viewing and curved linear-array echoendoscope (FVCLA-ES) that has a cap for small SELs.
Patients And Methods:
The study enrolled 8 patients who had small upper GI SELs approximately 10 mm in diameter. To fix the SELs during FNA, a cap device was attached to the scope tip.
Results:
The mean (standard deviation [SD]) diameter of the SELs was 10.6 mm (2.94). Even small lesions were well targeted for FNA when the FVCLA-ES with a cap device was used. The mean (SD) number of passes was 4.6 (1.59). Adequate samples were obtained from 7 patients (87.5 %) - in 6 (75 %) for cytology and in 4 (50 %) for histologic examination with immunohistochemical (IHC) staining. No complication occurred. Gastrointestinal stromal tumor (GIST) in 2 patients and leiomyoma in 2 patients were definitively diagnosed with IHC staining.
Conclusions:
EUS-FNA with an FVCLA-ES that has a cap device is feasible and safe. This technique is expected to contribute to histologic diagnosis, even in small SELs.
