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Samples obtained via endoscopic ultrasonography (EUS)–guided fine-needle aspiration (FNA) routinely get cytologic analysis, which is usually adequate to assess for malignancy. This study assessed the value of performing molecular analysis on those samples, specifically looking for the presence of K-ras oncogene mutations (common in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma [PDAC]).
Thirty-one patients who underwent pancreatic EUS-guided FNA were analyzed. Samples were sent for standard cytologic examination as well as molecular analysis. Final diagnoses included 22 (71%) patients with PDAC, 7 (22%) with chronic pancreatitis (CP), and 2 (6%) with pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors (pNET). Standard cytologic evaluation had an inconclusive rate of 35%. Wh…