European Journal of Molecular & Clinical Medicine

Abstract

Background: Several markers have been proposed as diagnostic markers in patients
with solid pancreatic lesions, including Carbohydrate antigen 19-9 (CA 19-9),
Carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) andVascular endothelial growth factor (VEGFA).
The aim of the present study was to evaluate role of serum VEGF-A in
predicting findings of Endoscopic ultrasound guided Fine Needle Aspiration (EUSFNA)
of solid pancreatic lesions and if they are correlated to each other. Patients
and methods: The study included forty six patients with solid pancreatic lesion who
admitted to Internal Medicine department, endoscopy unit, Faculty of Medicine,
Hospitals and Kasr EL-Ainy Hospitals, Cairo University. Patients were divided into
2 groups according to FNA findings, CT abdomen and /or MRI. All patients
enrolled for full history and investigated with routine laboratory studies. EUS
technique was performed. Results: In our study, the mean age of group I with
malignant pancreatic lesions was 56 years while the mean age of group II with
benign pancreatic lesions was 44 years percentage. There was significant difference
between studied groups regarding age and smoking. No significant difference was
found between studied groups as regards sex, diabetes mellitus and obesity. There
were statistically significant differences between the malignant group of patients
classified according to EUS stage (N) regarding CA19-9 and VEGF-A however no
significant difference between them regarding CEA. VEGF-A at cut off value of˃
1580 u/ml has a sensitivity of 66.6% and a specificity of 94.74%in detecting
advanced malignant pancreatic lesions. Conclusion: different imaging modalities
are used to assess pancreatic solid lesions, among them EUS is superior to CT and
MRI owing to its high ability to detect, describe and stage pancreatic solid lesions.
EUS-FNA could differentiate between various pathological pancreatic neoplasms.