Abstract

AIMS--To improve the diagnostic value of fine needle aspiration biopsy of pancreatic lesions using a simple mutation detection method based on the polymerase chain reaction (PCR). METHODS--Fine needle aspirates from 21 suspected pancreatic lesions were analysed for K-ras codon 12 point mutations using solid phase minisequencing. RESULTS--A point mutation in codon 12 of the K-ras gene was detected in 14 of 17 cases of pancreatic carcinoma. No false positive results were recorded. The concordance of the result with routine cytology was 78%. All patients diagnosed as having malignant disease on cytology also had a K-ras point mutation. Additional information on the presence of malignancy was obtained using molecular genetic analysis in two cases. CONCLUSIONS--PCR based minisequencing is a promising method for the analysis of cytological material. K-ras point mutation analysis was modified to enable it to be carried out in a clinical laboratory. Advantages of the method include its simplicity and speed. Adequate sampling guidance is important but analysis can be performed even with small amounts of cellular material.