Combined cytologic and histologic diagnosis of liver tumors via one-shot aspiration.
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.
Tsai
Yuh-Yuan
YY
Department of Internal Medicine, Kaohsiung Military General Hospital, Kaohsiung, Taiwan, Taiwan.
Lu
Sheng-Nan
SN
Changchien
Chi-Sin
CS
Wang
Jing-Houng
JH
Lee
Chuan-Mo
CM
Eng
Hock-Liew
HL
Chang
Wei-Chi
WC
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