title: Comparison of core and fine needle aspiration biopsies for diagnosis of liver masses.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Core biopsy of liver mass comprises an alternative to fine needle aspiration biopsy. We decided to compare diagnoses established with the use of both methods and assess whether the use of both methods together is warranted.
  
  
  METHODS
  Each of the 116 patients enrolled in study underwent a guided fine needle and core biopsy of liver tumor. The results were compared. Histopathologic diagnoses of carcinomas were supported by immunohistochemistry (anti-CK7, anti-CK19, anti-CK20 and Hepatocyte antibodies).
  
  
  RESULTS
  In 83 out of 116 cases (71.5%), major cytological and histopathological diagnoses (malignancy vs. benign lesion vs. diagnosis impossible) were univocal. In one case, establishing diagnoses was not possible due to 'non-diagnostic' material harvested during both biopsies. In 15 cases, diagnoses were established solely on the basis of one examination In 13 cases, histopathologic diagnosis was contrary (malignant vs. benign) to cytologic diagnosis. In 27 cases histopathologic examination enabled us to reach more precise diagnosis than cytological examination. Despite the simultaneous use of both methods, we were able to establish definite diagnoses only in 29.3% of malignant cases.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Although core biopsy provided more information and more precise information than fine needle biopsy, most complete results were achieved with the use of both methods together.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, Medical University of Lodz, Lodz, Poland.
authors.forename: Dorota
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Kupnicka
authors.forename: Slawomir
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sztajer
authors.forename: Radzislaw
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Kordek
authors.forename: Janusz
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Piekarski
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001707:Biopsy, Needle / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D053554:Keratin-20 / Q000032:analysis; D008099:Liver / Q000473:pathology*; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged
chemical_list: D053554:Keratin-20