Diagnosis of Malignant Biliary Strictures: Conventional or Negative Pressure Brush Cytology?

Background/Objective: The aim of this study was to perform a comparative evaluation of the yields of conventional brush cytology and brush cytology with negative pressure in the diagnosis of malignant biliary strictures. Methods: A total of 132 consecutive patients undergoing endoscopic were identified. Of these, 88.0 had brush cytology after ERCP and 44 were Brush cytology with negative pressure. Retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) including brush cytology and brush cytology with negative pressure in patients with biliary strictures between 2012-2015. Endoscopic retrograde cholangiography was performed with a standard videoduodenoscope Olympus TFJ 160-R (Olympus, Hamburg, Germany) and brush cytology with a Cook medical Double Lumen Biliary BrushTM (Cytology). Means and standard frequencies were used to calculate variables. Results: Positive results for malignancy were obtained in 22 of 88 patients (25%) by brush cytology and 31 of 44 patients (70.4 %) by brush cytology with negative pressure. Conclusions: Sensitivity of cytology sampling could be maximized by negative pressure during ERCP.