Visualize the bile duct with clarity

Raising the
standard of
care in diagnosis

Healthcare Professionals / GastroenterologyHPB Portfolio / Practical Solutions / Diagnosis

Differentiating between malignant and benign strictures remains challenging

Any delay to diagnosis may directly affect patient outcomes. Yet, an accurate diagnosis can be challenging even after tissue-based diagnostic investigations have been attempted. About 15–20% of patients with indeterminate biliary structures who undergo surgery are found to have benign disease, with high postoperative mortality (10%) reported in many western referral centers.2
A delayed diagnosis of malignancy may result in a more invasive surgical procedure3 or patients may no longer be surgical candidates.4

Accurate diagnosis is as challenging as it is important1,2,5,6

There are different diagnostic methods available for evaluating strictures, each comes with benefits and limitations.2,5 Based on the type and location of the suspected mass, careful selection of EUS and/or ERCP-based sampling techniques is required to optimize diagnostic accuracy.2

Optimizing hospital resources – an urgent requirement

Strain on health systems has been exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic, resulting in patient backlogs and driving the need for improved operational efficiency.

“It has been sobering to witness first-hand the immense pressures we are all feeling on our time and our resources, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic, but also inspiring to see so many innovative solutions, and to share those learnings in the hope of achieving better outcomes for patients and providers alike.”7

This can be achieved by avoiding repeat procedures, reducing the length of those that are carried out, and delivering cost savings while simultaneously maintaining – or improving – the standard of care.

Driving innovation in HPB diagnosis

At Boston Scientific, we understand the challenges you may face in achieving a diagnosis for your patients. We have developed a suite of solutions to help support them:

Direct visualization

The SpyGlass™ DS System directly visualizes the pancreatic bile ducts and improve the success of diagnostic procedures


Biopsy forceps

Secure a diagnosis for your patient with the sample you need with the
SpyBiteTM Max


Fine-needle biopsy

Obtain more tissue with the Acquire™ Endoscopic Ultrasound Fine-Need Biopsy Device

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