Diagnostic Accuracy of Ultrasonography-Guided Percutaneous Core Needle Biopsies of Pancreatic Lesions

Objective This study evaluates the results and complications of ultrasound-guided percutaneous core needle biopsies for solid masses of the pancreas performed at our university hospital . Methods Between January 2009 and June 2013 A total of 60 biopsy procedures were performed in 53 patients (30 males, 23 females) and 11 specimens were benign and 45 specimens were malignant according to histopathologic results. Results Sensitivity was 84.9%, specificity was 100% and diagnostic accuracy was 85.7%. No complications were observed during or after biopsy procedures Conclusion This study shows that ultrasound-guided biopsy is a reliable, time- and cost-saving method with a very low complication rate, high diagnostic accuracy and sensitivity, but benign biopsy findings should not be used to exclude the presence of pancreatic malignancy and biopsy should be repeated if there is a high clinical suspicion of malignancy.