PWE-074 Amylase testing in primary care – does it identify pathology?

Abstract

obtained, ease of diagnosis and the duration of tissue sampling and pathological reporting. Results 108 participants were recruited, 57 male; mean age 66.9 ± 10.9. 85.2% had a final diagnosis of malignancy. Median lesion size (IQR) was 25 mm (19-34.5). 62 (57.4%) of lesions were in the head of pancreas. Tissue results from the FNB needle were significantly more accurate than FNA (84.2% vs 75%, p=0.041) in discriminating malignant from benign masses. A greater proportion of FNB samples had abundant diagnostic material (59.2% vs 44.4%, p=0.017) and a straight forward diagnosis (68.9% vs 51.9%, p=0.03). Biopsy sampling time median (IQR) 685s (565-832) vs 752s (651-835), p=0.0006) and pathology reporting times (191s (134-258) vs 332s (260-358), p< 0.0001) were significantly shorter with FNB compared to FNA. Conclusion The diagnostic performance of the SharkCore™ FNB needle was significantly better than that of a standard FNA needle in the diagnosis of solid pancreatic masses and was associated with better sample quality, ease of reporting and shorter sampling and pathological reporting times.