Impact of biliary-pancreatic double stents on EUS-guided tissue acquisition among patients with solid pancreatic...

Although the impact of biliary stents on the accuracy of EUS-guided tissue acquisition (EUS-TA) is still controversial, the influence of biliary-pancreatic double stents on EUS-TA is even more inconclusive. The aim of the study was to determine whether the diagnostic yield of EUS-FNA in the diagnosis of solid pancreatic lesions will be affected after placement of biliary-pancreatic double stents.

A multicenter retrospective study including patients who underwent EUS-FNA with biliary duct obstruction was performed. Patients were divided into 2 groups according to whether there were biliary-pancreatic double stents before EUS-FNA. The patients' EUS-FNA report, histopathological results, and clinical case data were reviewed and compared.

Ninety-two patients were included, 42 with biliary-pancreatic double stents and 50 without any stents. The puncture time taken by EUS-FNA was significantly longer in the stent group than the no-stent group (19 vs. 15 min, P < 0.001). No significant differences were observed in accuracy (90.5% vs. 94%), sensitivity (89.5% vs. 93.6%), specificity (100% vs. 100%), NPV (50% vs. 50%), PPV (100% vs. 100%), respectively, in both groups. Patients with larger lesions (OR = 1.600, 95% CI: 1.124-2.277) and those who required more passes had a higher diagnostic yield (OR = 9.376, 95% CI: 1.356-64.819) by multivariate analysis.

ERCP before EUS-FNA is feasible for the treatment of solid pancreatic lesions causing obstructive jaundice. It will not have a negative impact on the diagnostic accuracy and surgical complications, but the EUS-FNA operation time will be prolonged.