To evaluate the factors influencing the diagnostic positivity of endoscopic ultrasonography guided fine needle aspiration (EUS-FNA) for small size pancreatic carcinoma (SSPC) and the occurrence of the adverse events after the aspiration.

51 patients with SSPC ≤2 cm in diameter treated in Changhai hospital from February 2008 to January 2015 were retrospectively studied.The gender, age, tumor diameter, location, the dilation of pancreatic ducts, the number of aspirations and the needle passages, the usage of negative pressure during aspiration, the pathological examination of the specimens and postoperative adverse events and the like were collected. Univariate analysis and logistic regression analyze were applied to determine the factors influencing the diagnostic positivity of EUS-FNA for SSPC and postoperative adverse events.

Among the 51 patients, positive cytology outcome were identified in 30 patients, which were negative in 21 patients. Univariate analysis identified that there were no statistical differences on the age, sex, dilated pancreatic duct, the number of aspirations and needle passages between two groups (P value >0.05). The diagnostic positivity using the 10ml minor negative pressure was obviously higher than that using 20 ml negative pressure, and the differences were statistically significant ( P=0.028). Multivariate logistic regression identified 10ml minor negative pressure was easier to obtain positive cytology outcome (Odds Ratio 0.2810, 95% CI 0.093-0.851). In addition, the number of passages in patients with postoperative adverse events was greater than those without postoperative adverse events (30 vs 20), and the difference was statistically significant (P=0.034).

The introduction of 10 ml negative pressure could improve the diagnostic positivity of EUS-FNA for SSPC, and the increased number of needle passages may increase the occurrence rate of postoperative adverse events.

Pancreatic neoplasms; Endoscopic ultrasonography guided fine needle aspiration; Diagnosis