[The value of ultrasound-guided cyto-biopsy in the study of livers with abnormal ultrasonograms].

This retrospective study considers the diagnostic reliability of 97 cyto-biopsies performed with a fine needle and guided by ultrasonography in 92 patients with one or several suspicious liver lesions. The results of the cyto-biopsy were compared with the final diagnosis obtained by histological examination or by the evolution. In 65 confirmed malignant tumors, fine needle biopsy was concordant in 54 cases. The sensitivity of this method in the diagnosis of malignant liver lesions was 83% with a specificity of 93%. In 54 malignant cytologies, the differentiation between primary or secondary lesions was possible in 31 cases (57%). In 32 confirmed benign lesions, fine needle biopsy was concordant in 30 cases. This study confirms the advantage of cyto-biopsy guided by ultrasonography in the positive and etiological diagnosis of malignant liver tumors.