Abstract
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Endoscopic ultrasound-guided fine-needle aspiration (EUS-FNA) has been established as a safe and accurate method for diagnosing and staging intra-abdominal mass. However, few studies investigated its feasibility, efficacy, and safety for targeting liver mass. We evaluated the efficacy and safety of EUS-FNA in patients with liver masses including the right lobe. PATIENTS AND METHODS: The technical feasibility, safety, and diagnostic yield were determined in 47 patients (30 in the left lobe and 17 in the right lobe) presenting with liver masses between September 2010 and February 2016. RESULTS: Thirty-eight patients (80.9%) had malignancies whereas nine patients (19.1%) had benign liver masses. Technical success rate was 97.9% (46/47). EUS-FNA was diagnostic in 38 of 42 patients (90.5%). When the outcomes of EUS-FNA between right liver mass and left mass were accessed, the technical success rates were similar in both lobes (100% vs. 94.1%, P= 0.2). The median tumor size on EUS (25.5 mm, interquartile range [IQR] 13.8-30.3 vs. 28 mm, IQR 18.5-43.5, P= 0.24) and number of needle passes (3, IQR 3-4 vs. 3, IQR 3-3, P= 0.24) were not significantly different. Adequate specimen obtained was statistically higher in the left lobe (28/30, 93.3% vs. 14/17, 82.4%, P= 0.04). However, diagnostic accuracy for liver masses was not different (25/28, 89.3% vs. 13/14, 92.9%, P= 0.86). No complications developed after procedure. CONCLUSIONS: EUS-FNA can be a safe and efficient method for the diagnosis of liver mass and it is technically feasible even for those in the right lobe.