[Prospective study comparing the results obtained by liver puncture biopsy with Chiba fine needle and Menghini needle in some tumors of the liver].

Seventy-eight consecutive patients (mean age 59 years) have been submitted to concomitant liver biopsy with Menghini and Chiba needles. The same place in the liver was reached by both needles. In 54 cases there was a clinical suspicion of malignancy and in 24 patients biopsy was indicated by other reasons. In 60 cases the biopsies were oriented by laparoscopy. Comparing the results attained by Menghini needle ("gold standard") and the results of the cytologic study of the material obtained with Chiba needle, the last method has proved to be sensible (92.7%), specific (97.3%) and reliable (accuracy = 94.9%).