A Comparative Study of 22G versus 19G Needles for EUS-Guided Biopsies for Parenchymal Liver Disease: Are Thinner Needles Better?

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Data on comparative efficacy of various available endoscopic ultrasound-guided liver biopsy (EUS-LB) needles are limited. We sought to compare the performance of a novel Franseen-tip 22G fine-needle biopsy (FNB) device to that of 19G needle platforms for liver parenchyma. METHODS: Consecutive patients referred for EUS and suspected to have hepatic parenchymal disease underwent EUS-LB using different EUS needles and were included in this retrospective study. Two blinded expert liver pathologists independently reviewed and reported on: total number of tissue fragments, length of longest fragment, number of complete and incomplete portal tracts (CPT and IPT), and specimen adequacy. RESULTS: A 22G Franseen-tip needle (A) was used in 30 patients; 19G Tru-Cut needle (B) in 50 patients; 19G reverse beveled non-Tru-Cut needle (C) in 27 patients; and a 19G flexible non-Tru-Cut needle (D) in 28 patients. In the order of needles, A, B, C and D, > 10 tissue fragments were obtained in 100%, 6%, 82%, and 96% samples, the mean number of CPTs was 6.9; 3.0; 7.3; and 16.9, length of longest fragment was 3.8, 4. 7, 3.9, and 8.4 mm, and specimen adequacy was 66.7%, 46%, 82.1%, and 81.5%, respectively. A positive correlation was obtained between number of CPTs and length of longest fragment in samples accrued by 19G needles. CONCLUSION: EUS-LB specimens using 22G Franseen-tip needle appear highly fragmented, leading to inferior specimen adequacy compared to 19G non-Tru-Cut needles. We also report on using length of longest fragment as an additional criterion for specimen adequacy as it positively correlates with number of CPTs standard.

An exclusive fine-needle biopsy approach to sampling solid lesions under EUS guidance: a prospective cohort study.

BACKGROUND: Endoscopic ultrasound-guided fine-needle biopsy (EUS-FNB) is increasingly utilized to enhance the cytological yield of sampling solid lesions, but its superiority over existing fine-needle aspiration (FNA) platforms has not been clearly demonstrated. The aim of our study was to compare the diagnostic accuracy and procedural outcomes of FNB using a new Franseen-tip needle to that of a traditional FNA in sampling solid lesions under EUS guidance. METHODS: Consecutive patients with solid lesions referred for EUS-FNB sampling were included. Procedure-related outcomes were collected prospectively including patient demographics, number of passes performed, diagnostic sample adequacy, adverse events, and recovery time. The Acquire needle was used to sample all lesions in the study group. Consecutive EUS-FNA procedures performed to sample solid lesions using the Expect needle were utilized as controls. RESULTS: There were 180 patients undergoing EUS-FNB compared to 183 patients undergoing EUS-FNA procedures for solid-lesion sampling. The procedure time was significantly shorter in patients who underwent FNB compared to FNA (mean: 37.4 vs 44.9 minutes, P < 0.001). Significantly fewer passes were performed in the FNB cohort compared to the FNA group (mean: 2.9 vs 3.8, P < 0.001). The cytologic diagnostic yield was significantly higher in the FNB group compared to the FNA group (98.3% vs 90.2%, P = 0.003). No significant difference in the incidence of adverse events was observed between the FNB and FNA groups (1.1% vs 0.5%, P = 0.564). CONCLUSIONS: An FNB-exclusive approach to sampling solid lesions under EUS guidance is safe and feasible, and may result in fewer overall passes, shorter procedure time, and improved diagnostic adequacy. FNB may replace FNA as the primary sampling modality of choice in all solid lesions.

Comorbidity Burden May Be Associated with Increased Mortality in Patients with Severe Acute Liver Injury Referred for Liver Transplantation.

BACKGROUND Severe acute liver injury (S-ALI) can lead to acute liver and multisystem failure, with high mortality and need for liver transplantation (LT); however, the burden and impact of liver disease and comorbid conditions are unknown. MATERIAL AND METHODS We assessed liver disease and Charlson Comorbidity Index (CCI) in adults without cirrhosis evaluated for LT at our center for S-ALI between 2004 and 2017. The study endpoints were 30-day death or LT and 90-day mortality (with LT as a competing risk). RESULTS A total of 136 patients with S-ALI were included; 13% had underlying liver disease and a higher Model for End-stage Liver Disease score than those without liver disease. Sixty patients (41%) died or underwent LT within 30 days. They were older and more frequently female and had disease of autoimmune, viral, or indeterminate etiology. Transplant-free survival was associated with acetaminophen injury. The mean CCI was higher in patients with 30-day mortality or LT (1.5±2.4) vs. LT-free survivors (0.8±1.2), (P=0.03). Beyond severity of illness, CCI was associated with increased 90-day mortality (subhazard ratio 1.17, 95% confidence interval, 1.01-1.35) but not 30-day mortality or LT in the risk-adjusted analyses. CONCLUSIONS Comorbidity burden may be an important modifier of transplant-free survival in patients with S-ALI, but further studies are needed to validate these findings.