Background Endoscopic Ultrasonography-guided Fine Needle Aspiration (EUS-FNA), which is the preferred method for sampling gastrointestinal malignancies, is dependent on multiple factors. We aimed to evaluate if the experience of the on-site pathologist had an effect on the sample adequacy and tissue yield. Methods A single center, retrospective cohort study was conducted among patients undergoing EUS-FNA between 2015 to 2018 for solid GI lesions. Sample adequacy, pathologist experience, needle passes, size and cytological diagnosis was collected. On-site pathologist reported the sample adequacy. Results A total of 163 patients (47.2% male), median age 68 years, with solid GI lesions (79.8% pancreatic masses), were included. There was no significant correlation between the experience of pathologists and the number of EUS-FNA passes required to attain sample adequacy(r =0.158, p= 0.078). The mean number of passes to attain adequacy was not statistically significant between pathologists with <=10 years of experience versus those with >10 years of experience (1.94 vs. 1.97 passes). However, more experienced pathologists requested a greater number of EUS-FNA passes for an adequate sample compared to less experienced pathologists (4.05 vs. 3.23; p=0.003). Conclusions While there was no difference in determining sample adequacy based on pathologist experience, the experienced pathologists actually requested more FNA passes than less experienced ones. One rationale is that younger graduates have better exposure to EUS-FNA, leading to a greater level of confidence with securing a diagnosis. Further data is required to evaluate this effect. Keywords: Endoscopic Ultrasound; Pathologist Experience; Fine Needle Aspiration; Sample Adequacy; Diagnostic Yield.
Endoscopic-ultrasonography-guided fine-needle aspiration is effective for diagnosing pancreatic cystic neoplasms
