Initial experience of transpapillary gallbladder biopsy using newly designed device delivery system.

Area of Science:

• Gastroenterology
• Interventional Endoscopy
• Surgical Pathology

Background:

• Transpapillary gallbladder biopsy is an established diagnostic method for gallbladder disease.
• Existing techniques often require specialized biopsy forceps or large-diameter catheters.
• A novel device delivery system, the Endosheather, has been developed to facilitate this procedure.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the efficacy and safety of transpapillary gallbladder biopsy using the newly designed Endosheather delivery system.
• To assess the success rates of selective gallbladder cannulation, delivery system insertion, and target lesion biopsy.
• To determine the diagnostic yield and potential complications associated with this technique.

Main Methods:

• A retrospective analysis of 11 patients who underwent transpapillary gallbladder biopsy using the Endosheather system between June 2021 and July 2022.
• Evaluation of selective gallbladder cannulation and delivery system insertion success rates.
• Assessment of target lesion biopsy success rate, biopsy time, and adverse events.

Main Results:

• The success rate for selective gallbladder cannulation and delivery system insertion was 90.9% (10/11).
• The target lesion biopsy success rate was 63.6% (7/11).
• Adverse events occurred in 2 patients, including one case of acute cholecystitis requiring surgery. One patient with benign bile cytology had a biopsy suspicious for adenocarcinoma, later confirmed as gallbladder cancer.

Conclusions:

• Transpapillary gallbladder biopsy using the Endosheather system is a viable option for diagnosing gallbladder disease.
• The technique is particularly useful for evaluating gallbladder wall thickening, especially when imaging modalities are inconclusive.
• Combining transpapillary biopsy with bile juice cytology may enhance diagnostic accuracy for gallbladder conditions.