Can the conventional cytology technique be sufficient in a center lacking ROSE?: Retrospective study during the COVID-19 pandemic

Abstract

While rapid on-site evaluation (ROSE) is considered to be an additional tool to optimize the yield of tissue acquisition during EUS-guided FNA of the gastrointestinal tract (1)(2) it is not readily available at all times while performing these procedures. We reviewed twenty-seven EUS-guided FNA procedures done at our institution in Tripoli central hospital with general working center restrictions due to local COVID-19 prevention protocols. Approximately 92.6 % of tissue adequacy was achieved despite the lack of ROSE which is comparable to ROSE-based tissue acquisition results. This is a small size retrospective chart review study to illustrate the optimal tissue adequacy during EUS-guided FNA of the upper gastrointestinal tract in a suboptimal hospital setting, lack of ROSE and merely utilizing visual inspection of those specimens by the performing physician and its effects on the diagnosis.

Keywords

• pancreatic cancer
• endoscopic ultrasound
• hepatobiliary diseases
• covid-19