Endoscopic ultrasound-guided tissue acquisition: Needle types, technical issues, and sample handling

Abstract

Endoscopic ultrasound (EUS)-guided tissue acquisition is an established method for the pathologic diagnosis of solid pancreatic masses due to its high accuracy and safety. Currently, EUS-guided biopsy is applied to any lesions adjacent to the gastrointestinal tract that can be visualized with EUS. In this review, conventional and novel types of needles for EUS-guided tissue acquisition are introduced and their diagnostic performance is compared. In addition, technical issues and sampling handling methods to improve diagnostic accuracy are discussed.

Keywords

• biopsy; diagnosis; instrumentation; needles; pathology