Reviewer's report
Title:Diagnostic Accuracy of Cyst Fluid Amphiregulin in Pancreatic Cysts
Version: 1Date:5 October 2011
Reviewer: Mike Larvin
Reviewer's report:
This study is a potentially useful addition to the thorny issue of pancreatic cyst
fluid diagnosis. I enjoyed reading this paper.
Minor essential revisions and queries:
It is self-evident that if 2-8% of the population have a pancreatic cyst and half are
potentially malignant, then cystadenocarcinomas would be beginning to dominate
the known incidence of pancreas cancers. Was this an error?
Methods: Could the authors confirm whether 2 freeze-thaw cycles is deleterious
to the detection of AREG in their own lab?
Results: This study adds useful information to existing methods, allowing for
sample size as the authors acknowledge.
EUS is becoming a gold standard for pre-operative diagnosis of pancreatic cystic
lesions, but in the absence of malignant cells marker elevations are not always
helpful. Further studies appear justified and it may be that AREG has a
diagnostic role alongside CEA and imaging findings.
Level of interest: An article of importance in its field
Quality of written English: Acceptable
Statistical review: Yes, and I have assessed the statistics in my report.
Declaration of competing interests:
I declare that I, Michael Larvin MD, have no competing interests.
Reviewer's report
Title:Diagnostic Accuracy of Cyst Fluid Amphiregulin in Pancreatic Cysts
Version: 1Date:5 October 2011
Reviewer: Mike Larvin
Reviewer's report:
This study is a potentially useful addition to the thorny issue of pancreatic cyst
fluid diagnosis. I enjoyed reading this paper.
Minor essential revisions and queries:
It is self-evident that if 2-8% of the population have a pancreatic cyst and half are
potentially malignant, then cystadenocarcinomas would be beginning to dominate
the known incidence of pancreas cancers. Was this an error?
Methods: Could the authors confirm whether 2 freeze-thaw cycles is deleterious
to the detection of AREG in their own lab?
Results: This study adds useful information to existing methods, allowing for
sample size as the authors acknowledge.
EUS is becoming a gold standard for pre-operative diagnosis of pancreatic cystic
lesions, but in the absence of malignant cells marker elevations are not always
helpful. Further studies appear justified and it may be that AREG has a
diagnostic role alongside CEA and imaging findings.
Level of interest: An article of importance in its field
Quality of written English: Acceptable
Statistical review: Yes, and I have assessed the statistics in my report.
Declaration of competing interests:
I declare that I, Michael Larvin MD, have no competing interests.
Please review this paper.
user
Reviewer's report
Title:Diagnostic Accuracy of Cyst Fluid Amphiregulin in Pancreatic Cysts
Version: 1Date:5 October 2011
Reviewer: Mike Larvin
Reviewer's report:
This study is a potentially useful addition to the thorny issue of pancreatic cyst
fluid diagnosis. I enjoyed reading this paper.
Minor essential revisions and queries:
It is self-evident that if 2-8% of the population have a pancreatic cyst and half are
potentially malignant, then cystadenocarcinomas would be beginning to dominate
the known incidence of pancreas cancers. Was this an error?
Methods: Could the authors confirm whether 2 freeze-thaw cycles is deleterious
to the detection of AREG in their own lab?
Results: This study adds useful information to existing methods, allowing for
sample size as the authors acknowledge.
EUS is becoming a gold standard for pre-operative diagnosis of pancreatic cystic
lesions, but in the absence of malignant cells marker elevations are not always
helpful. Further studies appear justified and it may be that AREG has a
diagnostic role alongside CEA and imaging findings.
Level of interest: An article of importance in its field
Quality of written English: Acceptable
Statistical review: Yes, and I have assessed the statistics in my report.
Declaration of competing interests:
I declare that I, Michael Larvin MD, have no competing interests.
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