title: Combined cytologic and histologic diagnosis of liver tumors via one-shot aspiration.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Ultrasound-guided fine needle aspiration is considered to be a safe alternative in diagnosing liver tumors. Combined cytologic and histologic preparation via one-shot fine needle aspiration was evaluated, especially in outpatients.
  
  
  METHODS
  During a 1-year period, 95 patients (including 57 outpatients and 38 inpatients) who had received 97 sessions of fine needle aspiration and had final diagnosis were enrolled. Using a 22-gauge needle, the aspirate from liver tumor was processed for cytology and cell block histology simultaneously in patients without ascites and/or bleeding tendency.
  
  
  RESULTS
  From 94 malignant and 3 benign tumors, the accuracy of cytology was 88.7%; while, the difference between outpatients and inpatients was not significant (91.2% vs. 85%). No complication after fine needle aspiration was elicited in both groups. The rates of inadequate specimen preparation for cytology and histology were 0% and 13.4%, the false-negative rates of malignancy were 11.7% for cytology and 16% for histology. The inadequate and false-negative rates of histology were not associated with gender, underlying liver cirrhosis, or tumor size, type, and location.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Ultrasound-guided 22-gauge one-shot fine needle aspiration is safe, convenient and reliable in diagnosing liver tumor, and can be performed in outpatients meticulously.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Kaohsiung Military General Hospital, Kaohsiung, Taiwan, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Yuh-Yuan
authors.initials: YY
authors.lastname: Tsai
authors.forename: Sheng-Nan
authors.initials: SN
authors.lastname: Lu
authors.forename: Chi-Sin
authors.initials: CS
authors.lastname: Changchien
authors.forename: Jing-Houng
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Chuan-Mo
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Hock-Liew
authors.initials: HL
authors.lastname: Eng
authors.forename: Wei-Chi
authors.initials: WC
authors.lastname: Chang
mesh_terms: D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000473:pathology; D000368:Aged; D001707:Biopsy, Needle; D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000473:pathology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies