Ces radiol. 2025, 79(2):125-130 | DOI: 10.55095/CesRadiol2025/018

The role of endobiliary cryobiopsy in the diagnosis of biliary obstruction - pilot dataOriginal article

Barbora Hanžlová1, Tomáš Rohan1, Peter Matkulčík1, Jakub Vlažný2, Dávid Said2, Marek Dostál1, Jakub Hustý1, Jiří Pánek1, Jaroslav Sedmík1, Tomáš Andrašina1
1 Klinika radiologie a nukleární medicíny LF MU a FN, Brno
2 Ústav patologie LF MU a FN, Brno Korespondenční adresa:

Introduction: Obstruction of the bile ducts is a serious condition associated with high morbidity and mortality, requiring accurate diagnosis and appropriate therapy. The goal of this prospective study is to assess the feasibility and sensitivity of percutaneous endobiliary cryobiopsy in comparison with forceps biopsy in patients with billiary duct stenosis.

Methods: Both forceps biopsy and cryobiopsy were performed during a single procedure, the order of sampling was randomized. Technical success, sample size, quality, and diagnostic accuracy were evaluated.

Results: A total of 90 samples were collected (n = 47 conventional forceps biopsy, n = 43 cryobiopsy). Cryobiopsy provided a significantly larger total sample area of microscopic specimen (median 2,67 vs. 0,44 mm2; p < 0,01), artefact-free sample area (median 1,47 vs. 0 mm2; p < 0,01), smaller number of samples non-evaluable for artefacts (11,6 % vs. 53,2 %; p < 0,01). Median weight of cryobiopsy samples was significantly greater than that of forceps biopsy (7,6 vs. 3,5 mg; p = 0,015). In quality assessment cryobiopsy samples achieved significantly better results than the forceps biopsy both in terms of the median Likert scale value (4 vs. 1; p < 0.01) and in terms of the frequency of quality samples rated as Likert > 2 (74,42 vs. 29,79%; p < 0.01). Biopsy proved adenocarcinoma in 5 patients, 5/5 of them in set of cryobiopsy samples, while only 2/5 in forceps biopsy samples.

Conclusion: The obtained results suggest that cryobiopsy could represent an effective and accurate method for diagnosing bile duct malignancies, with potential benefits for early diagnosis and targeted therapy.

Keywords: biliary stenosis, forceps biopsy, cryobiopsy.

Accepted: March 14, 2025; Published: June 6, 2025  Show citation

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Hanžlová B, Rohan T, Matkulčík P, Vlažný J, Said D, Dostál M, et al.. The role of endobiliary cryobiopsy in the diagnosis of biliary obstruction - pilot data. Ces radiol. 2025;79(2):125-130. doi: 10.55095/CesRadiol2025/018.
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