Fine-Needle Aspiration vs. Fine-Needle Biopsy for GI Subepithelial Lesions

Fine-needle biopsy proved superior in a well-constructed meta-analysis.

For more than 20 years, endoscopic ultrasound-guided fine-needle aspiration (FNA) was the standard technique to sample subepithelial lesions (also known as submucosal lesions) of the luminal gastrointestinal (GI) tract. However, recent years have seen the rise of fine-needle biopsy (FNB) needles, which can obtain core tissue samples.

Now, investigators have conducted a meta-analysis of 10 studies to compare the performance of FNA versus FNB in 660 patients with GI subepithelial lesions. Results were as follows:

Sample adequacy (the primary endpoint) was superior with FNB versus FNA (94.9% vs. 80.6%; odds ratio, 2.54; P=0.007).
Tissue core procurement was superior with FNB (89.7% vs. 65.0%; OR, 3.27; P<0.0001).
Diagnostic accuracy was superior w…

Reviewing Author

Douglas G. Adler, MD, FACG, AGAF, FASGE

Disclosures

Consultant/Advisory BoardBSC; Merit; Olympus

Speaker’s BureauAbbVie

Editorial BoardsGastrointestinal Endoscopy

Douglas G. Adler, MD, FACG, AGAF, FASGE

Disclosures

Consultant/Advisory BoardBSC; Merit; Olympus

Speaker’s BureauAbbVie

Editorial BoardsGastrointestinal Endoscopy

Fine-Needle Aspiration vs. Fine-Needle Biopsy for GI Subepithelial Lesions

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Reviewing Author