Advances in endoscopic ultrasound-guided tissue acquisition

Endoscopic ultrasound-guided fine-needle aspiration has evolved to become an indispensable tool for tissue acquisition in patients with gastrointestinal tumors. The technique is useful for sampling of both luminal and extraluminal lesions adjacent to the gastrointestinal tract. A major limitation however has been the inability to procure tissue for histologic analysis. Recently, core biopsy needles have been developed to procure histology-grade material that facilitates both a reliable diagnosis and the ability to conduct molecular profiling for deliverance of personalized anticancer therapy. This review provides a perspective on technical issues that are key for best practices in endoscopic ultrasound-guided tissue acquisition.