The outcomes of endoscopic ultrasound‐guided tissue acquisition for small focal liver lesions measuring ≤2 cm

Abstract

ObjectivesEndoscopic ultrasound‐guided tissue acquisition (EUS‐TA) for focal liver lesions has gained attention as an alternative to percutaneous biopsy. Although the outcomes of EUS‐TA for focal liver lesions have been reported to be favorable, no studies have focused on small focal liver lesions (≤2 cm). The aim of this study was to evaluate the outcomes of EUS‐TA for small focal liver lesions (≤2 cm).MethodsThe details of EUS‐TA performed for focal liver lesions between 2016 and 2022 were retrospectively reviewed. The outcomes were compared between cases involving ≤2 cm lesions and those involving >2 cm lesions. The primary outcomes were diagnostic ability and adverse events.ResultsEUS‐TA for focal liver lesions was performed in 109 cases. Of the 109 cases, 32 (29.3%) involved ≤2 cm lesions and 77 (70.6%) involved >2 cm lesions. Right lobe lesions and transduodenal puncture were significantly fewer in the ≤2 cm group. There were no significant differences in needle gauge, needle type, or number of punctures between the groups. The sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy rates were 96.8%, 100%, and 96.8%, respectively, in the ≤2 cm group and 97.4%, 100%, and 97.4%, respectively, in the >2 cm group, with no significant differences between the groups. There was no difference in adverse events between the groups (0% in the ≤2 cm group and 2.3% in the >2 cm group).ConclusionsEUS‐TA for small focal liver lesions measuring ≤2 cm has favorable outcomes, which are similar to those for lesions measuring >2 cm.