Ultrasound guided fine needle biopsy of the liver for cytology and histology.

Ultrasound guided fine needle biopsies were performed in 69 patients with space occupying lesions in the liver. Fifty five of these patients had material obtained for both cytology and histology with a 22 gauge modified Menghini needle, while the other 14 were biopsied with a conventional Chiba needle. Results of cytology, histology of Menghini cores, and histology of cell blocks, were reviewed and correlated with the final diagnoses obtained by clinical review and follow-up. Cytology detected 95% of malignant cases, and Menghini core histology detected 89%. A number of factors should determine the choice of fine needle biopsy for cytology or histology or both.