Ultrasound-guided biopsy of the pancreas

Abstract EN

Objectives : To evaluate the accuracy of diagnosis and assess the nature of complications with ultrasound- guided pancreatic biopsy.

Methods : Between March 1998 and March 2001, twenty-six patients aged 54-80 years (mean age 66 years) ; 18 males (69 %) and 8 females (31 %), underwent percutaneous ultrasound-guided biopsy of pancreatic mass lesions.

Results: Accuracy rate of the procedure was 92% (24 biopsies out of 26 biopsies).

A repeat biopsy increased accuracy rate to 100 %.

The complications were minor at a rate of 7.7 % (2 patients out of 26 patients).

One patient developed severe pain, and the other patient developed vasovagal reaction, and both patients were treated conservatively.

No major complications were detected.

Conclusion : Ultrasound-guided percutaneous pancreatic biopsy is an accurate and safe procedure for the diagnosis of the pathologic conditions of the pancreas.