Harmonic contrast-enhanced endoscopic ultrasound fine-needle aspiration: Fact or fiction?

ABSTRACT: The negative predictive value of endoscopic ultrasonography fine-needle aspiration is relatively low. To achieve the improvement of the diagnostic yield, the following were proposed: a higher number of passes, the presence of the rapid on-site cytopathologist evaluation, the fanning technique, or the repetition of the fine needle biopsy. Harmonic contrast-enhanced endosonography may better identify the targeted area in the lesions by avoiding the inside necrosis and the vessels of fibrosis, so it can guide the fine-needle aspiration. Both techniques are complementary, not competitive, and they can be done in the same session. The combined technique is simple, safe, and requires only a few minutes with minimal extra costs compared to standard fine-needle aspiration. It minimally increases t

SUBMITTER: Seicean A 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5331840 | biostudies-literature | 2017 Jan-Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature