DIAGNOSIS OF PANCREATIC LESIONS USING FINE-NEEDLE ASPIRATION CYTOLOGY- DETECTION OF K-RAS POINT MUTATIONS USING SOLID-PHASE MINISEQUENCING

Aims-To improve the diagnostic value of fine needle aspiration biopsy of pancreatic lesions using a simple mutation detection method based o n the polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Methods-Fine needle aspirates f rom 21 suspected pancreatic lesions were analysed for K-ras codon 12 p oint mutations using solid phase minisequencing. Results-A point mutat ion in codon 12 of the K-ras gene was detected in 14 of 17 cases of pa ncreatic carcinoma. No false positive results were recorded. The conco rdance of the result with routine cytology was 78%. All patients diagn osed as having malignant disease on cytology also had a K-ras point mu tation. Additional information on the presence of malignancy was obtai ned using molecular genetic analysis in two cases. Conclusions-PCR bas ed minisequencing is a promising method for the analysis of cytologica l material. K-ras point mutation analysis was modified to enable it to be carried out in a clinical laboratory. Advantages of the method inc lude its simplicity and speed. Adequate sampling guidance is important but analysis can be performed even with small amounts of cellular mat erial.