Routine brush cytology and fluorescence in situ hybridization for assessment of pancreatobiliary strictures.

Background: The specificity of brush cytology for detection of malignant pancreatobiliary strictures is high, but its sensitivity is moderate. Fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) can be used to detect chromosomal aneuploidy in biliary brushing specimens, and, according to some reports, it may improve the sensitivity of routine cytology.

Objective: To assess the role of routine cytology and FISH in detection of malignant pancreatobiliary strictures.