A comprehensive review of endoscopic ultrasound core biopsy needles

ABSTRACT

Introduction: Endoscopic ultrasound (EUS)-guided tissue acquisition by-fine needle biopsy (EUS-FNB) developed over the last two decades as an attempt to overcome the limitations of fine needle aspiration (FNA). There are now three commercially available second-generation FNB needles with different tip designs.

Areas covered: In this review the roles of EUS-FNA and FNB, the history and evolution of the EUS core biopsy needle are addressed followed by a presentation of currently available needles. Literature search was conducted using MEDLINE, Controlled Trials Register, US Patent Registry, Google Scholar, and Conference Abstracts.

Expert commentary: While FNA remains the reference standard, it is limited by the inability to retain stroma and associated cellular architecture in biopsy samples. Histologic architecture is of paramount importance in providing a molecular diagnosis and for accurate tumor staging. FNB offers a superior diagnostic yield to FNA and initial experiences with the three commercially available second-generation FNB needles show highly promising results.

KEYWORDS:

• Fine needle aspiration
• fine needle biopsy
• needle
• core biopsy
• SharkCore
• ProCore
• Acquire needle

Declaration of interest

T. H. Baron is a speaker and consultant for Medtronic, Boston Scientific, Cook Endoscopy, and Olympus Corporation. The authors have no other relevant affiliations or financial involvement with any organization or entity with a financial interest in or financial conflict with the subject matter or materials discussed in the manuscript apart from those disclosed. Peer reviewers on this manuscript have no relevant financial or other relationships to disclose.

Additional information

Funding

This paper is not funded.