Publication Name	World Journal of Gastroenterology
Manuscript ID	117828
Country	Greece

Category	Gastroenterology & Hepatology
Manuscript Type	Minireviews
Article Title	Methods improving endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography brush cytology in malignant biliary strictures
Manuscript Source	Invited Manuscript
All Author List	Kleoniki Kordeni, Antonios Vezakis, Theodoros Voulgaris, Athina Sotirianakou, Ekaterini Politi and Maria Gazouli
Funding Agency and Grant Number
Corresponding Author	Maria Gazouli, Department of Basic Medical Sciences, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, No. 176 Michalakopoulou, Athens 11527, Greece. mgazouli@med.uoa.gr
Key Words	Biliary stricture; Pancreatic cancer; Cholangiocarcinoma; Next generation sequence; Fluorescence in situ hybridization; Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography; Brushing; MicroRNA
Core Tip	Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography brush cytology remains a first-line sampling technique for indeterminate biliary strictures but suffers from limited sensitivity despite high specificity. Technical refinements including increased brushing passes, rapid on-site cytopathology evaluation, sheath-rinse techniques, and combined bile aspiration or fluoroscopic-guided biopsy improve cellular yield and diagnostic accuracy. Integration of advanced molecular diagnostics such as fluorescence in situ hybridization, next-generation sequencing, and microRNA profiling further enhances detection rates and enables identification of actionable genomic alterations. A multimodal diagnostic strategy combining optimized sampling techniques with molecular analysis represents the most effective current approach for improving early diagnosis and clinical decision-making in malignant biliary strictures.
Citation	Kordeni K, Vezakis A, Voulgaris T, Sotirianakou A, Politi E, Gazouli M. Methods improving endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography brush cytology in malignant biliary strictures: A minireview. World J Gastroenterol 2026; In press

Received	2025-12-23 06:53
Peer-Review Started	2025-12-23 06:53
First Decision by Editorial Office Director	2026-02-03 10:20
Return for Revision	2026-02-03 10:20
Revised	2026-02-16 13:41
Publication Fee Transferred
Second Decision by Editor	2026-03-09 02:44
Second Decision by Editor-in-Chief
Final Decision by Editorial Office Director	2026-03-09 09:04
Articles in Press	2026-03-09 09:04
Edit the Manuscript by Language Editor
Typeset the Manuscript

ISSN	1007-9327 (print) and 2219-2840 (online)
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