title: Fine-needle biopsy: prospective comparison of aspiration versus nonaspiration techniques in the abdomen.
abstract: A prospective study was designed to compare the aspiration (suction method) and nonaspiration (nonsuction method) techniques of fine-needle biopsy (FNB) in 50 consecutive patients with abdominal pathologic conditions. Sites of biopsy included liver (n = 24), retroperitoneum (n = 9), adrenal gland (n = 5), pancreas (n = 4), omentum (n = 4), and miscellaneous sites (n = 4). Aspiration and nonaspiration FNBs were performed in each lesion with 22-gauge needles, and results were interpreted by a single cytopathologist. Cytologic specimens obtained with each technique were analyzed for diagnostic accuracy, total number of cell clusters per biopsy (graded 0-10, 10-20, 20-30, and > 30), presence of crush artifact, and amount of blood present (graded from 0 to +3). No significant differences were seen between the aspiration and nonaspiration techniques with regard to number of cell clusters per biopsy (44 of 50 specimens vs 42 of 50) (P < .0003), amount of blood present (grade 2.3 vs 2.2) (P < .0003), and amount of crush artifact. The positive predictive value for the aspiration technique was 91.5% versus 74% for the nonaspiration technique. The aspiration technique of FNB appears superior to the nonaspiration technique in the abdomen.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston 02114.
authors.forename: T B
authors.initials: TB
authors.lastname: Kinney
authors.forename: M J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: C A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Filomena
authors.forename: T L
authors.initials: TL
authors.lastname: Krebs
authors.forename: S L
authors.initials: SL
authors.lastname: Dawson
authors.forename: P L
authors.initials: PL
authors.lastname: Smith
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Raafat
authors.forename: P R
authors.initials: PR
authors.lastname: Mueller
mesh_terms: D000005:Abdomen / Q000473:pathology*; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001706:Biopsy / Q000379:methods* / Q000592:standards; D001707:Biopsy, Needle / Q000379:methods* / Q000592:standards; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests