CIO 2022-31 Making the Diagnosis: Increasing Cellular Yield of Pathology Samples Through a Motorized Rotating, Aspirating Device

Purpose: CytoCore, is a device with a rotating internal motor, functions through needle aspiration during biopsy to improve the acquisition of cellular material. Core biopsies range from 14-20‐gauge, while CytoCore and Fine Needle Aspiration (FNA) range from 22-25 gauge. Smaller gauge are typically associated with safer biopsies and less bleeding, however not utilized due to lower cellular yield. CytoCore devices can potentially provide adequate samples without increased tissue removal.  The aim of this project was to evaluate the consistency and diagnostic quality of cellular material obtained with a 22- 25-gauge by employing CytoCore as compared to traditional core biopsy.

Methods: This prospective, observational study obtains samples utilizing a traditional biopsy device (such as FNA and core biopsy) and compares it to samples obtained with the CytoCore device. These samples were analyzed in pathology separately for diagnostic adequacy.

Results: The Fisher exact test statistic values comparing FNA and CytoCore, as well as, Core biopsy versus CytoCore were 1. Sample sizes were 14 and 12 respectively, indicating no significant difference at p-value < .05. CytoCore is equivalent to FNA biopsy at 78% diagnosis success, however, the cellular yield of samples obtained with the CytoCore device were overall superior. Furthermore, when compared to traditional core samples, CytoCore specimens yielded a diagnosis of 99% (compared to 100% for core biopsy) with significantly less trauma to surrounding tissue.

Conclusion: CytoCore provides a high amount of cellular material with significantly less tissue damage, which is highly useful for vascular tissue. This research influences protocol development in instances where a benign diagnosis is favored on imaging to be the standard of practice.

Watch Dr Rey discuss her abstract at CIO2022 below