[Echoendoscopy: pathological diagnosis using real-time puncture-aspiration]

The aim of this study was to obtain pathologic diagnosis by aspiration punction (AP) by real time lineal echoendoscopy in different lesions suspected to be malignant. AP was performed in 6 cases with a Pentax-Hitachi FG 32UA lineal echoendoscopy. Four pancreatic neoplasms, one plastic linitis and one adenopathy of the celiac trunk were observed. Malignancy was confirmed by clinical evolution or surgery. The sensitivity of malignancy diagnosis was 67%, specificity 100% and diagnostic certainly 87%. No complications were observed. In the authors' preliminary experience, aspiration punction with real time lineal echoendoscopy allowed pathological diagnosis to be performed safely and effectively with relative simplicity.