Comparison of Biliary Forceps Biopsy and Brush Cytology

A Combination of Endoscopic Transpapillary Brush Cytology and a Novel Method of Forceps Biopsy to Diagnose Proximal Biliary Malignancies

Cholangiocarcinomas (CCCs) are malignant tumors arising from the biliary epithelium. CCCs are characterised by a high mortality and the only curable therapy is complete tumor resection, if feasible, or in some cases liver transplantation. Since surgery for CCC is a procedure associated with a high mortality itself it needs to be ascertained that an accurate preoperative diagnosis has been established. However, it often appears to be difficult to get a preoperative pathological diagnosis, since it is difficult to obtain tumor specimens using cytologic brushings, biopsy forceps, bile aspiration or endoscopic ultrasonography guided-fine needle aspiration. This is reflected by a nearly 100% specificity but low sensitivity rates. The aim of this study is to compare a new method of biliary biopsy using a double-balloon enteroscopy (DBE) forceps to enable a safe and reliable tissue specimen collection within the proximal biliary tract with cytology brushings in patients with suspected malignant proximal biliary strictures.

An endoscopic retrograde cholangiography (ERC) with a duodenoscope Olympus TFJ 160-R (Olympus Corp., Tokyo, Japan) and endoscopic sphincterotomy with an Olympus papillotome (Olympus) is performed under analgosedation . Then, the cannulation of the bile duct is performed by a pusher using a guidewire/guiding catheter. Subsequently, 2 histology samples are taken via a double-balloon enteroscopy (DBE) forceps (BF1725DF, Fujinon GmbH, Willich, Germany), which is placed under the guidance of the pusher.

An endoscopic retrograde cholangiography (ERC) with a duodenoscope Olympus TFJ 160-R (Olympus Corp., Tokyo, Japan) and endoscopic sphincterotomy with an Olympus papillotome (Olympus) is performed under analgosedation . The region of interest is then brushed five times in both directions to obtain cytology specimen.

For this study we recruit patients with proximal biliary stenoses, which are suspect for malignancy. An endoscopic retrograde cholangiography (ERC) will be performed on all patients . During ERC all subjects are undergoing both biopsy (using a double-balloon enteroscopy [DBE] forceps under a guidance of a pusher and guiding catheter with guidewire) and transpapillary brush cytology. The definite clinical diagnosis will be compared to cytological/histological results obtained by biopsy/cytology and accuracy will be evaluated.

Inclusion Criteria: biliary stenosis with suspected malignancy Exclusion Criteria: no definite diagnosis available