Clinical cytology of the liver.

A combined cytologic and histologic study of 149 needle-biopsy specimens of liver tissue was done. These specimens represented a wide range of normal and pathologic conditions. Malignancy was demonstrated in 27 cases--18 by both methods of study, one by histologic study alone, and eight by cytologic study alone. In the last group of eight, four were considered conclusive for malignancy and four were suspicious. These results confirm the findings of others who also report the advantages of combined cytologic and histologic study of needle-biopsy specimens for diagnosing malignancy. Similar results have been obtained with cytologic study of fine-needle aspirates. The commonly occurring cytologic findings in liver specimens are presented with a brief discussion of the specificity of the cytologic diagnosis of hepatocarcinoma.