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Background and study aim  Different types of endoscopic ultrasound (EUS)-guided fine-needle aspiration (FNA) techniques are used in clinical practice; the best method in terms of outcome has not been determined. The aim of the study was to compare the diagnostic adequacy of aspirated material, and the cytopathological and EUS morphological features between capillary action, suction, and no-suction FNA methods. Patients and methods  This was a prospective, single-blinded, randomized study conducted at a tertiary care hospital. Patients were randomized to the three groups: capillary action, suction, and no suction. A total of 300 patients were included, with 100 patients in each arm. Results  A total of 300 patients (195 males) underwent EUS-FNA of 235 lymph nodes and 65 pancreatic masses (distribution not statistically different between the groups). The mean age was 52 ± 14 years. A 22 gauge needle was used in the majority (93 %) of procedures. There was no statistical difference between the three groups regarding lymph node size at the largest axis and ratio, type of needle, echo features, echogenicity, calcification, necrosis, shape, borders (lymph nodes), number of passes, and cellularity. Diagnostic adequacy of the specimen was 91 %, 91 %, and 94 % in the capillary, suction, and no suction groups, respectively ( P  = 0.67). Significantly more slides and blood clots were generated by the suction method compared with the other methods. Conclusion  The capillary action, suction, and no suction methods of EUS-FNA are similar in terms of diagnostic adequacy of the specimen. The suction method has the disadvantages of causing more bleeding and generating more slides.

Background/AimsEndoscopic ultrasound-guided fine-needle aspiration (EUS-FNA) cytology of adrenal masses helps in etiological diagnosis. The aim of this study was to evaluate the diagnostic yield of EUS-FNA of adrenal masses in cases where other imaging methods failed and/or were not feasible.MethodsTwenty-one consecutive patients with adrenal masses, in whom adrenal FNA was performed because conventional imaging modalities failed and/or were not feasible, were prospectively evaluated over a period of 3 years.ResultsOf the 21 patients (mean age, 56±12.2 years; male:female ratio, 2:1), 12 had pyrexia of unknown origin and the other nine underwent evaluation for metastasis. The median lesion size was 2.4×1.6 cm. Ten patients were diagnosed with tuberculosis (shown by the presence of caseating granulomas [n=10] and acid-fast bacilli [n=4]). Two patients had EUS-FNA results suggestive of histoplasmosis. The other patients had metastatic lung carcinoma (n=6), hepatocellular carcinoma (n=1), and adrenal lipoma (n=1) and adrenal myelolipoma (n=1). EUS results were not suggestive of any particular etiology. No procedure-related adverse events occurred.ConclusionsEUS-FNA is a safe and effective method for evaluating adrenal masses, and it yields diagnosis in cases where tissue diagnosis is impossible or has failed using conventional imaging modalities.

Background and aims: Etiologic diagnosis of pyrexia of unknown origin is important in patients with cirrhosis for optimal management and to prevent flare up of infectious disease after liver transplantation. However, there is very limited literature available on this subject. The present study aimed to examine the safety and impact of endoscopic ultrasound (EUS) guided fine needle aspiration (FNA) in patients with cirrhosis. Methods: The study was conducted between January 2014 and January 2016 at a tertiary care center. A total of 50 (47 lymph nodes, 3 adrenal) EUS guided FNAs were performed in 46 patients. Data are presented as median (25 – 75 IQR). Results: The study included 46 patients (40 males) whose mean age was 47.9 ± 11.1 (SD) years; mean Child-Turcotte-Pugh (CTP) score and mean MELD (Model for End-Stage Liver Disease) score were 10 (8 – 11) and 18 (12 – 20), respectively. The Child Pugh class was A in 4, B in 14, and C in 28 (including three patients with adrenal FNAs). Indications for FNA were pyrexia of unknown origin and lymphadenopathy on CT imaging. The cytopathological diagnoses were metastatic disease in 1 (adrenal), granulomatous change in 10 (6 positive with acid fast bacilli stain), histoplasmosis in three (two adrenals, one lymph node), 32 lymph nodes were reactive and four lymph node FNAs showed inadequate cellularity. The pathologic nodes had significantly lower long-to-short axis ratio [1.25 (1.09 – 1.28) versus 1.46 (1.22 – 1.87), P = 0.020]; a higher proportion of hypoechoic echotexture (5 versus 3, P = 0.017), and sharply defined borders (4 versus 2, P = 0.029). Complications included mild hepatic encephalopathy related to sedation in two patients with Child’s C status. Conclusion: EUS guided FNA is safe in patients with cirrhosis and modified the management in 14/46 (30.4 %) patients.

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