Conventional Endoscopic Biopsy Research Articles

The technical procedure and the value of fine needle aspiration biopsy of the nasopharynx

Malignant lesions in the nasopharynx are not infrequently missed by conventional endoscopic biopsy, even if repeated. To improve the diagnostic yield of nasopharyngeal examination, we have developed a technique for fine needle aspiration biopsy of the nasopharynx. Histological correlation was possible in 121 cases in which cytology was reported as malignant. Malignancy was confirmed in 92 cases. In the remaining 29 cases histological examination revealed only benign or atypical changes. However, all these patients had clinical evidence of a malignant growth in the nasopharynx, and 21 of them had, in addition, enlarged cervical nodes. Fine needle aspirates from these nodes showed malignant cells similar to those of the primary site. The failure to obtain representative biopsies for histology could be explained by the deep situation of tumors below the surface epithelium. We believe that fine needle aspiration is more useful and reliable than conventional surgical biopsy in the diagnosis of nasopharyngeal carcinoma and that it improves the diagnostic yield of endoscopic examination.

Clinical Evaluation of Endoscopic Gastric Mucosal Resection

Abstract: Endoscopic gastric mucosal resection (EGMR), by which a large specimen can be obtained, has been developed for the diagnosis and treatment of the borderline lesion (B. L.) or early gastric cancer (EGC), since biopsy specimens obtained by conventional techniques are too small to make an accurate diagnosis in number of cases. Thirty‐eight lesions in 35 cases (26 lesions in 23 cases with B. L. and 12 lesions in 12 cases with EGC) were resected for the purpose of treatment by EGMR, and 24 lesions (6 submucosal tumors, 3 B. L. s, 14 cases of EGC and 1 malignant lymphoma) for the purpose of diagnosis. By means of histological examination of the bite biopsy specimens following EGMR, twenty‐three lesions in 26 cases (89%) with a B. L. and 8 in 12 cases (67%) with EGC for treatment by EGMR were found to have been completely resected.After further histological examination of EGMR specimens obtained for diagnosis, one out of 3 B. L. s was diagnosed as EGC (IIa) and the others as bengin lesions. Out of 14 EGC cases, 6 were diagnosed as carcinoma, 3 as B. L. s and 5 as benign lesions.In Group III lesions obtained by conventional endoscopic biopsy, 8 out of 40 lesions (20%) were defined as EGC, 28 lesions (70%) as a B. L. and 4 lesions (10%) as benign lesions respectively by means of histological examination of the EGMR specimens.Although obvious side effects were observed in 4 cases, these patients could be treated by endoscopic management or drug therapy.It can be concluded that EGMR, by which large specimens can be obtained, is a useful procedure for the purpose of diagnosing and treating gastric mucosal lesions without causing major risk.