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Evaluation of PCLs Using Three EUS-FNA Needles

A Multicenter, Prospective, Randomized Study on Endosonographic Evaluation of Pancreatic Cystic Lesions Using 22 G, 19 G, and Flexible 19 G Fine Needle Aspiration

Status
Completed
Phases
NA
Study type
Interventional
Source
ClinicalTrials.gov
Registry ID
NCT01711294
Enrollment
250
Registered
2012-10-22
Start date
2013-01-08
Completion date
2019-12-18
Last updated
2021-01-15

For informational purposes only — not medical advice. Sourced from public registries and may not reflect the latest updates. Terms

Conditions

Pancreatic Cystic Lesions

Keywords

Pancreatic Cystic Lesions, PCL, EUS-FNA

Brief summary

To document impact of EUS-FNA needle size and flexibility on effectiveness of pancreatic cystic lesions (PCL) aspiration, on ability to obtain sufficient material for standard diagnostic testing, and on diagnostic accuracy of EUS-FNA aspirate for differentiation of mucinous (pre-malignant) and non-mucinous cysts.

Interventions

DEVICE19 G Flex Needle

Fine Needle Aspiration of PCL with a 19 G Flex needle. If unsuccessful, a salvage procedure will be done with 19 G or 22 G needle.

DEVICE22 G Needle

Fine Needle Aspiration of PCL with a 22 G needle. If unsuccessful, a salvage procedure will be done with 19 G Flex needle.

DEVICE19 G Needle

Fine Needle Aspiration of PCL with a 19 G needle. If unsuccessful, a salvage procedure will be done with 19 G Flex needle.

Sponsors

Boston Scientific Corporation
Lead SponsorINDUSTRY

Study design

Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
PARALLEL
Primary purpose
DIAGNOSTIC
Masking
NONE

Eligibility

Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
18 Years to No maximum
Healthy volunteers
No

Inclusion criteria

* Pancreatic cystic lesion measuring 13mm or greater in largest diameter. * Indicated for EUS evaluation of the PCL including EUS-FNA. * Age 18 years of age or older. * Willing and able to comply with the study procedures and provide written informed consent form to participate in the study.

Exclusion criteria

* Cysts in which FNA is not indicated based on review by the clinician, including potential concern of blood vessel location relative to the cyst. * Requirement for anticoagulation using clopidogril, warfarin, or other long acting antiplatelet agents (with the exception of aspirin) that cannot be safely stopped according to institutional guidelines. * Standard contraindications for EUS. * Known pancreatic pseudocyst. * Pregnancy.

Design outcomes

Primary

MeasureTime frameDescription
Volume of Aspirated Cyst Fluid as a Function of Estimated Maximal VolumeAt procedure (Up to 1 hour)Volume of aspirated cyst fluid as a function of estimated maximal volume, based on pre-aspiration EUS measure of cyst diameter (s) (% aspiration of total estimated volume)

Secondary

MeasureTime frameDescription
Change in Volume of Cyst Post Initial Procedure Compared to Pre ProcedureProcedure (Up to 1 hour)Change value is calculated as cyst volume measured after initial procedure (up to 1 hour) minus volume measured at the beginning of the initial procedure. Volume is measured using the standard geometric formula 4/3 πr³ where r is half the long axis. The volume unit is cc.
Number of Participants With Successful Echoendoscopic Fine Needle Aspiration of PCLProcedure (up to 1 hour)Successful echoendoscopic fine needle aspiration of PCL, defined as complete cyst aspiration (final cyst maximal diameter of less than 5mm) or collection of aspirate adequate to perform two standard assays: cytology and carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) (sample volume of 3 cc or more)
Number of Participants With PCL Reached/PenetratedProcedure (Up to 1 hour)Patients whose pancreatic cyst lesion(s) can be reached and penetrated by the EUS-FNA needles.
Number of EUS-FNA Needle Passes at Initial Procedure.Procedure (Up to 1 hour)Needle pass defined as needle insertion through needle removal outside the cyst lumen, but not including needle repositioning within a single or multi-compartment cyst.
Number of EUS-FNA Needles Used at Initial Procedure.Procedure (Up to 1 hour)Total number of EUS-FNA needles used across all participants at the initial procedure.
Time Needed for Aspiration for Each Needle Pass at Initial Procedure.Procedure (Up to 1 hour)Needle pass is defined as needle insertion through needle removal outside the cyst lumen, but not including needle repositioning within a single or multi-compartment cyst. Time of needle pass in is time of the first needle puncture into the cyst lumen. Needle pass out is time of removal of needle outside the cyst lumen, or after 10 seconds of failed attempt to aspirate fluid after the last needle re-repositioning in a single or multi-compartment cyst.
Time From First Needle Pass in to Last Needle Pass Out at Initial Procedure.Procedure (Up to 1 hour)Needle pass is defined as needle insertion through needle removal outside the cyst lumen, but not including needle repositioning within a single or multi-compartment cyst. Time of first needle pass in is time of the first needle puncture into the cyst lumen. Time of last needle pass out is time of removal of needle outside the cyst lumen at the end of the last fluid aspiration from a single or multi-loculated cyst, or after 10 seconds of failed attempt to aspirate fluid after the last needle re-repositioning in a single or multi-compartment cyst.
Number of Patients With Related Adverse Events30 daysAdverse events related to study procedure or study device were tabulated. Adverse events were assessed from the index procedure up to 30 days post procedure.
Number of Needles With Needle Removal Rated as Excellent/Very GoodProcedure (Up to 1 hour)Number of needles rated either Excellent or Very good when removed from the echoendoscope at the initial procedure.
Number of Needles With Needle Visualization Rated as Excellent/Very GoodProcedure (Up to 1 hour)Number of needles rated either Excellent or Very good for visualization at the initial procedure.
Number of Participants With Accurate Diagnosis of the Disease State Using the EUS-FNA Needlesup to 2 yearsIn order to assess the accuracy of EUS-FNA-based standard assays (cytology and CEA) as a diagnostic measure of disease state, the Disease State per EUS-FNA measure was compared to a reference diagnosis. The reference diagnostic standard was diagnosis from a surgical specimen histology, the true gold standard for cases that evolved to surgical resection within the follow-up of the study. For cases that did not progress to surgery within the follow-up period, the reference diagnostic standard was a composite diagnosis by a consensus board. The consensus board consisted of 3 experts who were blinded to the type of needle used. The consensus board diagnoses of disease state were based on baseline medical history, EUS and cross sectional imaging of the cyst, and aspirate characteristics (i.e. aspirate color and viscosity). If the EUS-FNA diagnosis matches with the histopathology or consensus board diagnosis, then the participant will be counted as having accurate diagnosis.
Number of Participants Requiring Post EUS-FNA Patient Management30 daysPost EUS-FNA patient management required (clinical and/or imaging surveillance, percutaneous drainage, surgical removal).
Number of Participants Whose Management Decision Was Directly Influenced by the EUS FindingsProcedure - 30 days after procedurePatients whose Post EUS-FNA Management (clinical and/or imaging surveillance, percutaneous drainage, surgical removal) was Directly Influenced by the EUS-FNA findings.
Rate of Cross-over to Salvage ArmProcedure (Immediate)In the case of inability to access the pancreatic cystic lesion or to attain complete cyst aspiration, salvage aspiration procedure should be performed. Patients randomized to 19G Flex should undergo a salvage procedure with 22G or 19G needle (needle choice at discretion of physician); patients randomized to 22G or 19G should undergo salvage procedure with 19G Flex needle.
Number of Needles With Needle Insertion Rated as Excellent/Very GoodProcedure (Up to 1 hour)Number of needles rated either Excellent or Very good when inserted into the echoendoscope at the initial procedure.

Countries

China, India, United States

Participant flow

Participants by arm

ArmCount
19G Flex Needle
Device: Expect™ Endoscopic Ultrasound Aspiration Needle (19G Flex) 19G Flex Needle: Fine Needle Aspiration of PCL with a 19G Flex needle. If unsuccessful, a salvage procedure will be done with 19G or 22G needle.
121
22G Needle
Device: Expect™ Endoscopic Ultrasound Aspiration Needle (22G) 22G Needle: Fine Needle Aspiration of PCL with a 22G needle. If unsuccessful, a salvage procedure will be done with 19G Flex needle.
65
19G Needle
Device: Expect™ Endoscopic Ultrasound Aspiration Needle (19G) 19G Needle: Fine Needle Aspiration of PCL with a 19G needle. If unsuccessful, a salvage procedure will be done with 19G Flex needle.
64
Total250

Baseline characteristics

Characteristic19G Flex Needle22G Needle19G NeedleTotal
Age, Continuous63 years
STANDARD_DEVIATION 14
65 years
STANDARD_DEVIATION 16
62 years
STANDARD_DEVIATION 15
63 years
STANDARD_DEVIATION 15
Medical History
Chronic Pancreatitis
8 Participants5 Participants3 Participants16 Participants
Medical History
Diabetes Mellitus
25 Participants13 Participants12 Participants50 Participants
Medical History
Necrotizing Pancreatitis
0 Participants1 Participants0 Participants1 Participants
Medical History
Symptomatic
41 Participants28 Participants21 Participants90 Participants
Pancreatic Cystic Lesion (PCL) Location
Body
26 Participants23 Participants21 Participants70 Participants
Pancreatic Cystic Lesion (PCL) Location
Head/uncinate
53 Participants30 Participants26 Participants109 Participants
Pancreatic Cystic Lesion (PCL) Location
Junction of body and tail
1 Participants0 Participants0 Participants1 Participants
Pancreatic Cystic Lesion (PCL) Location
Neck
2 Participants0 Participants4 Participants6 Participants
Pancreatic Cystic Lesion (PCL) Location
Tail
39 Participants12 Participants13 Participants64 Participants
Race and Ethnicity Not Collected0 Participants
Sex: Female, Male
Female
64 Participants36 Participants34 Participants134 Participants
Sex: Female, Male
Male
57 Participants29 Participants30 Participants116 Participants

Adverse events

Event typeEG000
affected / at risk
EG001
affected / at risk
EG002
affected / at risk
deaths
Total, all-cause mortality
1 / 1211 / 650 / 64
other
Total, other adverse events
1 / 1211 / 651 / 64
serious
Total, serious adverse events
3 / 1212 / 650 / 64

Outcome results

Primary

Volume of Aspirated Cyst Fluid as a Function of Estimated Maximal Volume

Volume of aspirated cyst fluid as a function of estimated maximal volume, based on pre-aspiration EUS measure of cyst diameter (s) (% aspiration of total estimated volume)

Time frame: At procedure (Up to 1 hour)

ArmMeasureValue (MEAN)Dispersion
19G Flex NeedleVolume of Aspirated Cyst Fluid as a Function of Estimated Maximal Volume78 percentage of cyst volume aspiratedStandard Deviation 35
22G NeedleVolume of Aspirated Cyst Fluid as a Function of Estimated Maximal Volume74 percentage of cyst volume aspiratedStandard Deviation 39
19G NeedleVolume of Aspirated Cyst Fluid as a Function of Estimated Maximal Volume73 percentage of cyst volume aspiratedStandard Deviation 41
Comparison: Study hypothesizes that aspiration % in the 19G Flex and 19G arms would be superior by at least 10% to 22G arm, and aspiration success rate of 19G Flex would be at least 16% greater than 22G and 19G arms. Sample size calculation was performed based on the above hypotheses reached by a consensus of all collaborators and adjusted a priori.p-value: 0.84Wilcoxon (Mann-Whitney)
Secondary

Change in Volume of Cyst Post Initial Procedure Compared to Pre Procedure

Change value is calculated as cyst volume measured after initial procedure (up to 1 hour) minus volume measured at the beginning of the initial procedure. Volume is measured using the standard geometric formula 4/3 πr³ where r is half the long axis. The volume unit is cc.

Time frame: Procedure (Up to 1 hour)

ArmMeasureValue (MEAN)Dispersion
19G Flex NeedleChange in Volume of Cyst Post Initial Procedure Compared to Pre Procedure16 ccStandard Deviation 38
22G NeedleChange in Volume of Cyst Post Initial Procedure Compared to Pre Procedure13 ccStandard Deviation 35
19G NeedleChange in Volume of Cyst Post Initial Procedure Compared to Pre Procedure22 ccStandard Deviation 79
Secondary

Number of EUS-FNA Needle Passes at Initial Procedure.

Needle pass defined as needle insertion through needle removal outside the cyst lumen, but not including needle repositioning within a single or multi-compartment cyst.

Time frame: Procedure (Up to 1 hour)

ArmMeasureValue (MEAN)Dispersion
19G Flex NeedleNumber of EUS-FNA Needle Passes at Initial Procedure.1 Needle passesStandard Deviation 0
22G NeedleNumber of EUS-FNA Needle Passes at Initial Procedure.1 Needle passesStandard Deviation 0
19G NeedleNumber of EUS-FNA Needle Passes at Initial Procedure.1 Needle passesStandard Deviation 0
Secondary

Number of EUS-FNA Needles Used at Initial Procedure.

Total number of EUS-FNA needles used across all participants at the initial procedure.

Time frame: Procedure (Up to 1 hour)

ArmMeasureValue (NUMBER)
19G Flex NeedleNumber of EUS-FNA Needles Used at Initial Procedure.156 Needles used
22G NeedleNumber of EUS-FNA Needles Used at Initial Procedure.81 Needles used
19G NeedleNumber of EUS-FNA Needles Used at Initial Procedure.78 Needles used
Secondary

Number of Needles With Needle Insertion Rated as Excellent/Very Good

Number of needles rated either Excellent or Very good when inserted into the echoendoscope at the initial procedure.

Time frame: Procedure (Up to 1 hour)

Population: Ease of needle passage into the echoendoscope is evaluated per needle.

ArmMeasureValue (COUNT_OF_UNITS)
19G Flex NeedleNumber of Needles With Needle Insertion Rated as Excellent/Very Good89 Needles
22G NeedleNumber of Needles With Needle Insertion Rated as Excellent/Very Good65 Needles
19G NeedleNumber of Needles With Needle Insertion Rated as Excellent/Very Good31 Needles
Secondary

Number of Needles With Needle Removal Rated as Excellent/Very Good

Number of needles rated either Excellent or Very good when removed from the echoendoscope at the initial procedure.

Time frame: Procedure (Up to 1 hour)

Population: Ease of needle passage out of the echoendoscope is evaluated per needle.

ArmMeasureValue (COUNT_OF_UNITS)
19G Flex NeedleNumber of Needles With Needle Removal Rated as Excellent/Very Good108 Needles
22G NeedleNumber of Needles With Needle Removal Rated as Excellent/Very Good67 Needles
19G NeedleNumber of Needles With Needle Removal Rated as Excellent/Very Good47 Needles
Secondary

Number of Needles With Needle Visualization Rated as Excellent/Very Good

Number of needles rated either Excellent or Very good for visualization at the initial procedure.

Time frame: Procedure (Up to 1 hour)

Population: Quality of needle visualization inside the cyst is evaluated per needle.

ArmMeasureValue (COUNT_OF_UNITS)
19G Flex NeedleNumber of Needles With Needle Visualization Rated as Excellent/Very Good98 Needle
22G NeedleNumber of Needles With Needle Visualization Rated as Excellent/Very Good61 Needle
19G NeedleNumber of Needles With Needle Visualization Rated as Excellent/Very Good50 Needle
Secondary

Number of Participants Requiring Post EUS-FNA Patient Management

Post EUS-FNA patient management required (clinical and/or imaging surveillance, percutaneous drainage, surgical removal).

Time frame: 30 days

Population: 3 patients excluded from this analysis (1 patient in each Arm) due to missing data in post EUS-FNA patient management.

ArmMeasureValue (COUNT_OF_PARTICIPANTS)
19G Flex NeedleNumber of Participants Requiring Post EUS-FNA Patient Management85 Participants
22G NeedleNumber of Participants Requiring Post EUS-FNA Patient Management45 Participants
19G NeedleNumber of Participants Requiring Post EUS-FNA Patient Management41 Participants
Secondary

Number of Participants Whose Management Decision Was Directly Influenced by the EUS Findings

Patients whose Post EUS-FNA Management (clinical and/or imaging surveillance, percutaneous drainage, surgical removal) was Directly Influenced by the EUS-FNA findings.

Time frame: Procedure - 30 days after procedure

Population: 3 patients excluded from this analysis (1 patient in each Arm) due to missing data in patient management decision directly influenced by the EUS findings.

ArmMeasureValue (COUNT_OF_PARTICIPANTS)
19G Flex NeedleNumber of Participants Whose Management Decision Was Directly Influenced by the EUS Findings106 Participants
22G NeedleNumber of Participants Whose Management Decision Was Directly Influenced by the EUS Findings56 Participants
19G NeedleNumber of Participants Whose Management Decision Was Directly Influenced by the EUS Findings55 Participants
Secondary

Number of Participants With Accurate Diagnosis of the Disease State Using the EUS-FNA Needles

In order to assess the accuracy of EUS-FNA-based standard assays (cytology and CEA) as a diagnostic measure of disease state, the Disease State per EUS-FNA measure was compared to a reference diagnosis. The reference diagnostic standard was diagnosis from a surgical specimen histology, the true gold standard for cases that evolved to surgical resection within the follow-up of the study. For cases that did not progress to surgery within the follow-up period, the reference diagnostic standard was a composite diagnosis by a consensus board. The consensus board consisted of 3 experts who were blinded to the type of needle used. The consensus board diagnoses of disease state were based on baseline medical history, EUS and cross sectional imaging of the cyst, and aspirate characteristics (i.e. aspirate color and viscosity). If the EUS-FNA diagnosis matches with the histopathology or consensus board diagnosis, then the participant will be counted as having accurate diagnosis.

Time frame: up to 2 years

Population: 3 patients excluded from analysis population in 19G Flex Arm due to histology diagnosis of neuroendocrine tumor (1), EUS diagnosis of neuroendocrine tumor (1), and solid cystic papillary neoplasm (1). 2 patients excluded from analysis population in 22G Arm due to missing EUS diagnosis (1) and EUS diagnosis of SPEN (1). 4 patients excluded from analysis population in 19G Arm due to missing EUS diagnosis (1) and EUS diagnosis of neuroendocrine tumor (3).

ArmMeasureValue (COUNT_OF_PARTICIPANTS)
19G Flex NeedleNumber of Participants With Accurate Diagnosis of the Disease State Using the EUS-FNA Needles91 Participants
22G NeedleNumber of Participants With Accurate Diagnosis of the Disease State Using the EUS-FNA Needles50 Participants
19G NeedleNumber of Participants With Accurate Diagnosis of the Disease State Using the EUS-FNA Needles50 Participants
Secondary

Number of Participants With PCL Reached/Penetrated

Patients whose pancreatic cyst lesion(s) can be reached and penetrated by the EUS-FNA needles.

Time frame: Procedure (Up to 1 hour)

ArmMeasureValue (COUNT_OF_PARTICIPANTS)
19G Flex NeedleNumber of Participants With PCL Reached/Penetrated114 Participants
22G NeedleNumber of Participants With PCL Reached/Penetrated62 Participants
19G NeedleNumber of Participants With PCL Reached/Penetrated53 Participants
Secondary

Number of Participants With Successful Echoendoscopic Fine Needle Aspiration of PCL

Successful echoendoscopic fine needle aspiration of PCL, defined as complete cyst aspiration (final cyst maximal diameter of less than 5mm) or collection of aspirate adequate to perform two standard assays: cytology and carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) (sample volume of 3 cc or more)

Time frame: Procedure (up to 1 hour)

ArmMeasureValue (COUNT_OF_PARTICIPANTS)
19G Flex NeedleNumber of Participants With Successful Echoendoscopic Fine Needle Aspiration of PCL108 Participants
22G NeedleNumber of Participants With Successful Echoendoscopic Fine Needle Aspiration of PCL53 Participants
19G NeedleNumber of Participants With Successful Echoendoscopic Fine Needle Aspiration of PCL48 Participants
Secondary

Number of Patients With Related Adverse Events

Adverse events related to study procedure or study device were tabulated. Adverse events were assessed from the index procedure up to 30 days post procedure.

Time frame: 30 days

ArmMeasureValue (COUNT_OF_PARTICIPANTS)
19G Flex NeedleNumber of Patients With Related Adverse Events3 Participants
22G NeedleNumber of Patients With Related Adverse Events2 Participants
19G NeedleNumber of Patients With Related Adverse Events1 Participants
Secondary

Rate of Cross-over to Salvage Arm

In the case of inability to access the pancreatic cystic lesion or to attain complete cyst aspiration, salvage aspiration procedure should be performed. Patients randomized to 19G Flex should undergo a salvage procedure with 22G or 19G needle (needle choice at discretion of physician); patients randomized to 22G or 19G should undergo salvage procedure with 19G Flex needle.

Time frame: Procedure (Immediate)

ArmMeasureValue (COUNT_OF_PARTICIPANTS)
19G Flex NeedleRate of Cross-over to Salvage Arm8 Participants
22G NeedleRate of Cross-over to Salvage Arm8 Participants
19G NeedleRate of Cross-over to Salvage Arm11 Participants
Secondary

Time From First Needle Pass in to Last Needle Pass Out at Initial Procedure.

Needle pass is defined as needle insertion through needle removal outside the cyst lumen, but not including needle repositioning within a single or multi-compartment cyst. Time of first needle pass in is time of the first needle puncture into the cyst lumen. Time of last needle pass out is time of removal of needle outside the cyst lumen at the end of the last fluid aspiration from a single or multi-loculated cyst, or after 10 seconds of failed attempt to aspirate fluid after the last needle re-repositioning in a single or multi-compartment cyst.

Time frame: Procedure (Up to 1 hour)

ArmMeasureValue (MEAN)Dispersion
19G Flex NeedleTime From First Needle Pass in to Last Needle Pass Out at Initial Procedure.210 secondsStandard Deviation 225
22G NeedleTime From First Needle Pass in to Last Needle Pass Out at Initial Procedure.198 secondsStandard Deviation 161
19G NeedleTime From First Needle Pass in to Last Needle Pass Out at Initial Procedure.238 secondsStandard Deviation 205
Secondary

Time Needed for Aspiration for Each Needle Pass at Initial Procedure.

Needle pass is defined as needle insertion through needle removal outside the cyst lumen, but not including needle repositioning within a single or multi-compartment cyst. Time of needle pass in is time of the first needle puncture into the cyst lumen. Needle pass out is time of removal of needle outside the cyst lumen, or after 10 seconds of failed attempt to aspirate fluid after the last needle re-repositioning in a single or multi-compartment cyst.

Time frame: Procedure (Up to 1 hour)

ArmMeasureValue (MEAN)Dispersion
19G Flex NeedleTime Needed for Aspiration for Each Needle Pass at Initial Procedure.86 secondsStandard Deviation 115
22G NeedleTime Needed for Aspiration for Each Needle Pass at Initial Procedure.145 secondsStandard Deviation 188
19G NeedleTime Needed for Aspiration for Each Needle Pass at Initial Procedure.106 secondsStandard Deviation 163

Source: ClinicalTrials.gov · Data processed: Feb 4, 2026