American Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy guideline on the role of endoscopy in the diagnosis of malignancy in biliary strictures of undetermined etiology: summary and recommendations

Abstract

This clinical practice guideline from the American Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy (ASGE) provides an evidence-based approach for the diagnosis of malignancy in patients with biliary strictures of undetermined etiology. This document was developed using the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation (GRADE) framework and addresses the role of fluoroscopic-guided biopsies, brush cytology, cholangioscopy, and endoscopic ultrasound (EUS) in the diagnosis of malignancy in patients with biliary strictures. In the endoscopic work-up of these patients, we suggest the use of fluoroscopic-guided biopsies in addition to brush cytology over brush cytology alone, especially for hilar strictures. Especially for patients with, non-diagnostic sampling we suggest the use of cholangioscopic and EUS-guided biopsies; the former for non-distal and the latter for distal strictures or those with suspected spread to surrounding lymph nodes and other structures.