22-gauge core vs 22-gauge aspiration needle for endoscopic ultrasound-guided sampling of abdominal masses

Table 3 Technical characteristics and outcomes of endoscopic ultrasound-guided fine needle aspiration with the 2 needles in all patients (n = 56) and in patients with an available histological specimen (n = 36)

Characteristic	Type of needle (all cases/histology cases)
	AN (n = 56/36)	PC (n = 56/36)	P value
Needle passes, mean (SD)	1.5 (0.6)/1.5 (0.7)	1.7 (0.6)/1.7 (0.6)	0.14/0.16
Cellularity, mean (SD)	1.7 (0.6)/1.7 (0.6)	1.1 (0.3)/1 (0)	0.058/0.0342
Cytologic/histologic quality, median (range)	2.6 (0-3)/ 3 (0-3)	2.4 (0-3)/3 (0-3)	0.083/0.49
Adequacy for diagnosis, n (%)	54 (96.4)/35 (97.2)	51 (91.1)/36 (100)	0.38/0.99
Correct diagnosis1, n (%)	48/54 (88.9)/30/35 (85.7)	49/51 (96.1)/34/36 (94.4)	0.25/0.25

¹When adequate for analysis material was obtained;

²Statistically significant difference (P < 0.05). A difference is considered as statistically significant if P < 0.05. AN: Aspiration needle; PC: ProCore needle.