The utility of lower endoscopic ultrasound-guided fine needle aspiration for the diagnosis of benign and malignant pelvic diseases.

BACKGROUND: The utility of endoscopic ultrasound-guided fine-needle aspiration (EUS-FNA) for the diagnosis of pelvic masses has been suggested but limited data are available in the literature regarding its diagnostic accuracy. GOALS: To report our institutional experience with EUS-FNA for the diagnosis of a variety of pelvic diseases. METHODS: Patients who were referred for the evaluation of pelvic lesions using lower EUS-FNA were included in this retrospective analysis if they had available surgical pathology (obtained after EUS) which was considered the gold standard against which the EUS-FNA findings would have been compared. The diagnostic accuracy of EUS-FNA for pelvic masses was analyzed and any early or late complications after the procedure were reported. A pelvic mass was defined in the study as any mass seen with an imaging modality in the pelvic area including those involving the colonic wall. RESULTS: Twenty patients had EUS-FNA followed by surgery for whom FNA cytology and surgical pathology findings were available. EUS-FNA reached the correct diagnosis in 19 out of 20 patients, whereas for the missing 1 malignant lymph node wherein FNA revealed benign cytology, surgical specimen confirmed metastatic colon cancer. The sensitivity and specificity of EUS-FNA were 90% and 100%, respectively, with positive and negative predictive values of 100% and 90%, respectively. No early or late complications were encountered with this procedure for the sampling of cystic and noncystic masses. CONCLUSIONS: EUS-FNA has excellent diagnostic accuracy for pelvic masses. It represents a safe procedure with excellent yield and thus may be used as a first line modality for the evaluation and diagnosis of pelvic masses within its reach.

Effectiveness of focal vs. balloon radiofrequency ablation devices in the treatment of Barrett's esophagus.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: The safety and efficacy of radiofrequency ablation (RFA) in treatment of Barrett's esophagus (BE)-associated dysplasia has been well established. The effectiveness of focal and balloon RFA devices has not been compared. Therefore, the aim of our study was to assess the effectiveness of focal and balloon RFA devices in the treatment of BE by calculating absolute and percentage change in BE length with RFA therapy by comparing pre- and post-treatment BE length. PATIENTS AND METHODS: This is a retrospective cross-sectional study of patients who underwent at least one treatment with either focal and/or balloon RFA devices who were identified from two tertiary centers. Patients' demographics, hiatal hernia, pre- and post-treatment BE length, prior use of endoscopic therapies and number of sessions were recorded. RESULTS: Sixty-one patients who had undergone 161 RFA treatment sessions met inclusion criteria. There was no significant difference in percentage change in BE length with greater number of RFA sessions. RFA with a focal device resulted in greater percentage reduction in BE length compared to the balloon system (73% vs. 39%, p < 0.01). After adjusting for initial BE length, pre-treatment BE length, hernia status, prior endoscopic mucosal resection (EMR), prior RFA, and prior EMR/RFA sessions, RFA with a focal device at each session remained an independent predictor for a significant reduction in BE extent as compared to the balloon system. CONCLUSION: The focal RFA device alone was more effective in treatment of BE compared to the balloon system, with a greater reduction in extent of BE. The focal RFA device for endoscopic eradication therapy of BE should be considered the preferred technique.