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    The recent improvement of peroral cholangioscopy (POCS) maneuverability has enabled the precise, targeted biopsy of bile duct lesions under direct cholangioscopic vision. However, as only small-cup biopsy forceps can pass through the scope channel, the resulting small sample size may limit the pathological diagnosis of biopsy specimens. This study compared the diagnostic abilities of POCS-guided biopsy and conventional fluoroscopy-guided biopsy for bile duct cancer.This multicenter, retrospective cohort study included patients exhibiting bile duct stricture with suspected cholangiocarcinoma in whom POCS-guided and fluoroscopy-guided biopsies were performed in the same session. The primary endpoint was the diagnostic sensitivity for malignancy. The size and quality of the biopsy specimens were also compared.A total of 59 patients were enrolled. The sensitivity of POCS-guided biopsy was similar to that of fluoroscopy-guided biopsy (54.0% and 64.0%, respectively). However, when the modalities were combined, the sensitivity increased to 80.0%. The mean specimen size from POCS-guided biopsy was significantly smaller than that from fluoroscopy-guided biopsy. The specimen quality using fluoroscopy-guided biopsy was also better than that using POCS-guided biopsy.The diagnostic sensitivity of POCS-guided biopsy is still insufficient, mainly because of the limited specimen quantity and quality. Therefore, conventional fluoroscopy-guided biopsy would be helpful to improve diagnostic sensitivity.
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    Background Transpedicular biopsy of spinal lesions is imperative for the generation of a definite diagnosis. Thus far, literature comparing the accuracy and adequacy between fluoroscopy-guided and computed tomography (CT)-guided transpedicular biopsy of spinal lesions is scarce. We aim to compare the accuracy and adequacy of samples collected with the two techniques at the largest tertiary hospital in Malaysia. Materials and methods A total of 60 patients (37 patients with spinal infection and 23 patients with spinal tumour) underwent percutaneous transpedicular biopsy of spinal lesions from January 2013 to December 2017 at a tertiary centre. Demographic data, biopsy method (fluoroscopy-guided and CT-guided), diagnosis, adequacy, and accuracy of samples obtained were assessed. Results Among the 60 samples obtained, only two samples (3.3%) were deemed inadequate. There were 10 biopsy samples (16.7%) that were inaccurate. There was no statistical difference between fluoroscopy-guided and CT-guided transpedicular biopsy in terms of accuracy (p = 0.731) and adequacy (p = 0.492). Conclusions Fluoroscopy-guided and CT-guided transpedicular biopsy of spinal lesions offer similar accuracy and adequacy. Fluoroscopy-guided biopsy of the spinal lesion will be an option for spine surgeons when CT-guided biopsy is not available.
    Citations (3)
    One hundred thirty-eight patients with esophageal stricture underwent polyvinyl bougie dilations whereby American Endoscopy dilators were passed over a marked guidewire that had been placed endoscopically. Fluoroscopy was not utilized during the dilations. The dilations were performed only after the guidewire was properly placed, with 60-cm markings at the incisors, which ensured that the tip of the guidewire was in the antrum. One hundred fourteen patients had benign strictures and 24 had malignant strictures. There were 197 sessions of dilations for a total of 748 individual dilations. In 97 of 138 patients, the guidewire was placed in the antrum under direct vision. The remaining 41 patients had significant esophageal stenosis which prevented passage of the endoscope into the stomach; therefore, the guidewire was placed by advancing it blindly through the stenosis. There were no procedure-related complications. During this period, eight patients were dilated without complications, using fluoroscopic placement of guidewire because endoscopic placement of the guidewire was not considered safe. We conclude that esophageal strictures can be safely dilated in most patients by means of the American Endoscopy dilator system and the marked guidewire without the aid of fluoroscopy.
    Dilator
    Endoscope
    Esophageal stenosis
    Citations (20)