EUS-FNB for Solid Pancreatic Lesions: Side-fenestrated Vs Fork-tip Needle

Endoscopic ultrasound (EUS) has become an essential procedure in the last decade for evaluation of focal pancreatic lesions and for tissue acquisition for diagnostic purposes. In these patients the endoscopic ultrasound-guided fine needle aspiration (EUS-FNA) and, more recently, the introduction of EUS fine needle biopsy (EUS-FNB), is a safe instrument, with high sensitivity (75-98 %) and specificity (71-100%).

The obtaining of bioptic tissue samples reduces the need for rapid on site-evaluation (ROSE) and allows an easier interpretation of the diagnosis even by non-expert pathologist. It also makes possible to perform ancillary investigations such as immunohistochemical, often useful for the differential diagnosis.

Two different EUS-FNB needles are available: the side-fenestrated reverse bevel and the fork-tip forward-acquiring". Both are available in 25, 22 and 19 gauge. The 22 gauge is the most commonly used since it combines the ease of use of small-sized caliber with the advantages of larger sized needles. The 25 gauge is universally recognized as the most manageable and flexible needle and is preferred when the lesion is small (<20mm) or is in "difficult" conditions (lesion localized to the uncinate process or to distal tail, lesion distant from the transducer > 15mm, need to cross > 1cm of healthy pancreas, angled position of the instrument).

There are no prospective studies comparing the 22 and 25 gauge side-fenestrated and fork-tip needles. We therefore propose a prospective randomized study, to compare the two types of needles in terms of histologic and diagnostic yield, number of passes necessary to reach it in solid pancreatic lesions, in the absence of ROSE.

This is a randomized single center trial with two parallel arms in a (1:1) ratio. Consecutive patients with solid pancreatic masses and an indication to perform EUS-guided tissue acquisition will be evaluated and, if eligible, will be enrolled into the study. Randomization will take place after the lesion will have been visualized with EUS and the patient will be found suitable for inclusion.

The choice of needle gauge (22 or 25 gauge) will be at the discretion of the endosonographer in relation to the difficulty/risk of the procedure; therefore, two randomization lists will be drawn up, (one for the 22 gauge and one for the 25 gauge).

The choice of the needle gauge will be done before randomization so that the choice of the needle does not create bias in the results. The pathologist will be blinded to the needle caliber and type.

The sample size has been calculated for the primary outcome (histologic retrieval rate) using a group sequential design to define a proper interim analysis after at least 50% enrolment. The histologic yield of the two needle types can be summarized as follows:

22 gauge: 77% and 92% for the side-fenestrated and the fork-tip, respectively. 25 gauge: 60.5% and 85% for the side-fenestrated and the fork-tip, respectively.

With a type I error α of 5% and a power 1 - β of 80%, the total required sample size amounts to 330 patients (210 patients for 22G group and 120 patients for 25G group). Considering that 18% of patients must be added to counteract the estimated and lost drop-out rate at follow-up, overall 362 patients will be needed (196 patients for the 22G group and 112 patients for the 25G group).

Based on sample size calculation the two lists will consist in 24 blocks of 8 patients and 1 block of 4 patients for the 22G group and 14 blocks of 8 patients for the 25G group.

Inclusion criteria

• Solid pancreatic mass referred for EUS-guided tissue acquisition.
• Written informed consent.

Exclusion criteria

• Known bleeding disorder that cannot be sufficiently corrected with co-fact or fresh frozen plasma (FFP).
• Cystic lesions even with solid component.
• Previous inclusion in present study.
• Previous histological or cytological diagnosis.
• Pancreatic lesion not seen at EUS.
• Technical impossibility to perform EUS-FNB (for example, for the interposition of vessels).
• Patients in an emergency situation.
• Pregnancy or feeding time.