title: Fine needle aspiration biopsy in patients with diffusely enlarged spleens.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the diagnostic value and potential risk of fine needle aspiration biopsy (FNAB) of the spleen in patients with diffuse splenomegaly due to an undetermined cause.
  
  
  METHODS
  Retrospective evaluation of the medical records and cytologic material from 58 patients on whom FNAB was performed between 1967 and 1993.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Sixty-five FNABs were performed on 58 patients. Lymphoproliferative diseases were found in six; in four additional cases, metastatic adenocarcinoma, sarcoidosis, Candida albicans and enterococcal infection were demonstrated. The remaining 55 biopsies either showed normal splenic tissue or were nondiagnostic. No complications were recorded.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Splenic FNAB may be useful in some patients with diffuse splenomegaly. The diagnostic yield is rather low. The procedure, however, is simple, safe and well tolerated.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Meir Hospital, Kfar Saba, Isreal.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Lishner
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Lang
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Hamlet
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Halph
authors.forename: Z
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Steiner
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Radnay
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ravid
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001707:Biopsy, Needle; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D013154:Spleen / Q000473:pathology*; D013163:Splenomegaly / Q000473:pathology*