Diagnostic value of peroral choledochoscopy combined with modified biopsy forceps for malignant biliary strictures: a two-center retrospective study

Description

Geqi Zhu and colleagues test whether adding modified biopsy forceps to a tiny camera threaded through the mouth improves the diagnosis of malignant bile duct narrowing. Tissue proof is essential for biliary strictures, yet standard forceps samples are small. Their 2026 two-center retrospective study covers 158 inpatients with suspected extrahepatic cancer treated between 2020 and 2025, split evenly between the modified-forceps method and scope-guided biopsy alone.

The modified approach detected far more carcinoma in situ, 32.9 percent against 6.3 percent for scope alone. Overall accuracy reached 93.7 percent versus 72.2 percent, sensitivity 93.2 percent versus 71.4 percent, and both methods kept perfect specificity. Adverse events were similar, at 7.6 percent and 8.9 percent in the two groups. The authors conclude that the modified forceps raise diagnostic yield for malignant strictures without a safety penalty. That gain could spare patients repeat procedures or surgery for what turns out to be benign disease.

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Source: https://europepmc.org/article/MED/PMC13457247