How can we get the best results with endoscopic ultrasound-guided fine needle aspiration?

Abstract

Endoscopic ultrasound-guided fine needle aspiration (EUS-FNA) has evolved to become an indispensable tool for tissue acquisition. While the overall diagnostic accuracy of EUS-FNA is greater than 90% for lung cancer staging, it is lower for pancreatic mass lesions. Several factors such as location of the tumor, disease characteristics and procedural techniques determine the outcomes of EUS-FNA. In this review we evaluate the various technical factors that are keys to attaining optimal procedural outcomes. © 2012 Korean Society of Gastrointestinal Endoscopy.