Development of a device for detecting target specimens from EUS-guided FNA samples

Area of Science:

• Gastroenterology
• Interventional Endoscopy
• Cytopathology

Background:

• Endoscopic ultrasound-guided fine needle aspiration biopsy (EUS-FNA) for pancreatic tumors yields microscopic samples often obscured by blood, complicating target specimen confirmation.
• Rapid on-site evaluation (ROSE) aids sample assessment but is limited by cytopathologist availability in many facilities.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and validate a novel device for detecting target specimens during pancreatic tumor EUS-FNA.
• To improve the efficiency and accuracy of sample collection in EUS-FNA procedures.

Main Methods:

• A preliminary case series involved 58 patients with solid pancreatic masses undergoing EUS-FNA at a tertiary-care university hospital.
• Collected material was assessed using a target sample check illuminator (TSCI) and evaluated by a cytopathologist.

Main Results:

• The TSCI demonstrated a 93.7% agreement rate with histopathology.
• In 91.4% of cases, further testing was unnecessary after TSCI use, with an average of 1.2 needle punctures per patient.
• The procedure involving TSCI was associated with no adverse events.

Conclusions:

• The TSCI facilitates the collection of minimal necessary target samples during EUS-FNA for pancreatic tumors.
• This device enables the cessation of further procedures without the need for ROSE, improving workflow and resource utilization.