Background and Aims. Several studies have shown the benefits of endoscopic ultrasound-guided fine needle biopsy (EUS-FNB)\nusing a Franseen needle for histological assessment. However, studies focusing on pancreatic diseases are limited and the safety of\nthis method has not been well assessed.We aimed to assess the current status and issues of EUS-FNB in the diagnosis of pancreatic\ndiseases. Materials and Methods.We retrospectively reviewed 87 consecutive EUS-FNB specimens using either a 22-gauge Franseen\nneedle (Group A, N = 51) or a conventional 22-gauge fine-needle aspiration needle (Group B, N = 36) for pancreatic diseases, and\nthe diagnostic accuracy and safety were compared. Final diagnoses were obtained based on surgical pathology or a minimum sixmonth\nclinical follow-up. Results. Although the diagnostic accuracy for malignancy was 96.1% in Group A versus 88.9% in Group\nB, with no statistically significant difference (P = 0.19), the median sample area was significantly larger in Group A (4.07 versus\n1.31mm^2, P < 0.0001). There were no differences between the two needles in the locations fromwhich the specimens were obtained.\nAdverse events occurred in one case (2%) in Group A (mild pancreatitis) and none in Group B with no statistical significance (P\n= 0.586). Although there was no case of bleeding defined as adverse events, 2 cases in Group A showed active bleeding during\nthe procedure with increase in the echo-free space, which required CT scanning to rule out extravasation. Eventually, the bleeding\nstopped spontaneously. Conclusions. Given its guaranteed ability to obtain core specimens and comparable safety, and although the\nrisk of bleeding should be kept in mind, EUS-FNB using a Franseen needle is likely to become a standard procedure for obtaining\npancreatic tissue in the near future.
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