Purpose

Pancreatic cystic lesions (PCLs) are a common incidental finding in cross sectional imaging (up to 27% on CT scan and 41% on MRI) and pose a management challenge to physicians. According to society guidelines, PCLs with specific features should prompt additional workup with endoscopic ultrasound (EUS) for cyst characterization as well as cyst sampling. This can help determine if the cyst is mucinous or non-mucinous which has implications for its malignant potential. Cyst fluid has traditionally been sampled using EUS with fine needle aspiration (EUS-FNA) and sent for fluid analysis and cytology. More recently, the adjunctive use of the through-the-scope micro forceps (Moray micro forceps, US Endoscopy, Mentor, OH) biopsy (EUS-MFB) has shown promise for diagnosis of PCLs. This technology utilizes a micro forceps through a 19-gauge needle to biopsy the cyst wall for histology, in addition to collecting cyst fluid for CEA level and cytology. More recently, the adjunctive use of the Moray® through the needle micro forceps biopsy (EUS-MFB) has shown promise for diagnosis of PCLs. This technology utilizes a micro forceps through a 19-gauge needle to biopsy the cyst wall for histology, in addition to collecting cyst fluid for CEA level and cytology. Only a few small retrospective reports have been published regarding the use of MFB. The results of this study will hopefully help increase diagnostic yield by obtaining a histopathologic diagnosis of these PCLs, and potentially affect practice patterns of gastroenterologists and the endoscopic community, specifically those physicians who perform EUS in these patients. Furthermore, the results will help determine whether there is reason to continue this line of research to obtain a definite histologic tissue diagnosis of PCLs.

Condition

Eligibility

Eligible Ages
Between 18 Years and 89 Years
Eligible Sex
All
Accepts Healthy Volunteers
No

Inclusion Criteria

  • Adult patients >18 years old - Cysts > 20 mm in size deemed appropriate for FNA by the endoscopist, based on clinical presentation, radiologic imaging features, associated solid mass or nodules, and patient anxiety about the diagnosis

Exclusion Criteria

  • Age <18 years - Inability to provide informed consent - Thrombocytopenia (Platelets < 50,000) or coagulopathy (INR > 1.8) - Pregnancy - Post-surgical anatomy where the cyst is not accessible for FNA - EUS findings suggesting that cyst FNA would be unsafe (e.g. intervening blood vessels) - EUS appearance suggesting FNA is not indicated (e.g. cyst smaller than prior radiologic imaging, cyst not seen, EUS suggestive of serous cystadenoma)

Study Design

Phase
N/A
Study Type
Interventional
Allocation
Randomized
Intervention Model
Parallel Assignment
Primary Purpose
Diagnostic
Masking
Single (Outcomes Assessor)

Arm Groups

ArmDescriptionAssigned Intervention
Active Comparator
1). EUS-FNA plus MFB
A 19-G needle plus micro-forceps will be used for FNA plus MFB.
  • Procedure: 1). EUS-FNA plus MFB
    The cyst will be punctured using a 19-G EUS-FNA needle with a stylet. A transgastric approach will be used for PCLs located in body/tail region, and a transduodenal approach for PCLs in the head/neck region, or as determined by the endoscopist. The stylet will be removed and the wall of the cyst biopsied using the micro forceps passed through the 19 G needle under direct EUS visualization. A minimum of 4 cyst wall biopsies will be obtained to procure at least 4 visible tissue fragments. Cyst fluid will be aspirated and sent for CEA and cytology.
Active Comparator
2). EUS-FNA Alone
A 19-G needle will be used for FNA alone.
  • Procedure: 2). EUS-FNA Alone
    The cyst will be punctured using an EUS-FNA needle with a stylet. A transgastric approach will be used for PCLs located in body/tail region, and a transduodenal approach for PCLs in the head/neck region, or as determined by the endoscopist. The stylet will be removed, and cyst fluid will be aspirated and sent for CEA, and cytology.

Recruiting Locations

University of California Irvine
Irvine, California 92697
Contact:
Jason Samarasena, MD
jsamaras@hs.uci.edu

University of Colorado - Anschutz Medical Campus
Aurora, Colorado 80045
Contact:
Sandra Boimbo
sandra.boimbo@cuanschutz.edu

More Details

NCT ID
NCT04404101
Status
Recruiting
Sponsor
University of Colorado, Denver

Study Contact

Anna Duloy, MD
+13037248892
anna.duloy@cuanschutz.edu

Detailed Description

Pancreatic cystic lesions (PCLs) are a common incidental finding in cross sectional imaging (up to 27% on CT scan and 41% on MRI) and pose a management challenge to physicians. According to society guidelines, PCLs with specific features should prompt additional workup with endoscopic ultrasound (EUS) for cyst characterization as well as cyst sampling. This can help determine if the cyst is mucinous or non-mucinous which has implications for its malignant potential. Cyst fluid has traditionally been sampled using EUS with FNA (Fine-Needle Aspiration) and sent for fluid analysis (CEA and amylase) and cytology. However, despite use of a cyst fluid carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) level cutoff of 192 ng/mL and cytology, accuracy of diagnosis for PCLs is poor. As the spectrum ranges from benign to high risk for neoplasm, precise diagnosis is critical. More recently, the adjunctive use of the Moray® through the needle micro forceps biopsy (EUS-MFB) has shown promise for diagnosis of PCLs. This technology utilizes a micro forceps through a 19-gauge needle to biopsy the cyst wall for histology, in addition to collecting cyst fluid for CEA level and cytology. Only a few small retrospective reports have been published regarding the use of MFB. Pancreatic cysts continue to pose a management dilemma for practicing clinicians, especially with the increased use of radiologic imaging modalities identifying incidental pancreatic cystic lesions with higher frequency. This leads to patient anxiety and increased costs due to radiologic surveillance and even surgery. The results of this study will hopefully help increase diagnostic yield by obtaining a histopathologic diagnosis of these PCLs, and potentially affect practice patterns of gastroenterologists and the endoscopic community, specifically those physicians who perform EUS in these patients. Furthermore, the results will help determine whether there is reason to continue this line of research to obtain a definite histologic tissue diagnosis of PCLs.

Notice

Study information shown on this site is derived from ClinicalTrials.gov (a public registry operated by the National Institutes of Health). The listing of studies provided is not certain to be all studies for which you might be eligible. Furthermore, study eligibility requirements can be difficult to understand and may change over time, so it is wise to speak with your medical care provider and individual research study teams when making decisions related to participation.