[The use of ultrasonically-guided needle aspiration cytology in the diagnosis of hepatic lesions].

The paper reports the results of 68 ultrasonically-guided fine needle aspirations of the liver. Histological confirmation was carried out in 24 cases and in 2 of these there was discrepancy with regard to the type of malignant neoplasia (hepatocarcinoma versus metastasis following adenocarcinoma). Following a discussion of the advantages and disadvantages of ultrasonically-guided fine needle aspiration of hepatic lesions in comparison to other techniques, including CT, RNM, angiography, laparoscopy and scintigraphy, the specificity, sensitivity and diagnostic accuracy of the method are determined. Particular emphasis is placed on the ease of performance, the possibility of reaching concealed targets, the limited nature of complications and the reduced cost. The Authors conclude that this technique should be preferentially used in the diagnosis of nodular hepatic lesions.