2 research outputs found
Stent Scraping for Histology: An Alternative Method for Obtaining Tissue to Rule out Neoplasia
Despite improvement in diagnostic modalities, confirmation of a histologic diagnosis of cancer of
the biliary tree and pancreas remains elusive. Attempts to collect positive cytology specimens from
vigorous brushings or washings obtained at endoscopy or percutaneously are often unsuccessful. In
our unit, we have increased the yield by obtaining tissue scraped from prostheses that have been previously
placed in either the bile duct or the pancreatic duct. The stents are first flushed with saline
to collect cytology specimens, after which, they are bisected and scraped, and these contents are prepared
in a manner similar to that used to prepare biopsy samples. Twelve of 16 scraped samples, 9
bile duct and 3 pancreas, were positive for adenocarcinoma. The cytology specimens were positive
in only 4 of the 12. We recommend this method of sampling from material contained within prostheses
as an adjunct when previous brushings, washings, or biopsies are negative