This prospective work is to assess the diagnostic role of EUS-FNA combined with the immunohistochemical expression of IMP3 on different benign and malignant pancreatic lesions.

The included pancreatic lesions (n = 140) were obtained by EUS-FNA technique and stained for IMP3 immunohistochemically. Paraffin blocks from patients who underwent excision (n = 92) or core biopsies (n = 48) were performed for confirming diagnosis.

The combined method for diagnosis showed that IMP3 was positive in 78.7%, 91.7%, 100% PAC, mucinous neoplasm with high grade dysplasia, and IPMN with high grade dysplasia, respectively, while almost all benign lesions showed negative IMP3. Also, this method showed sensitivity (78.26%), specificity (95.83%), and accuracy (84.3%).

EUS-FNA cytology with IMP3 could be a reliable diagnostic tool especially for assessment of malignant pancreatic lesions.