[Fine needle cytopuncture of the pancreas. Apropos of 45 cases].

In this report, we examined the sensitivity and specificity of pancreatic fine needle aspiration cytology in the diagnosis of pancreatic cancer. Aspiration cytodiagnosis was performed in 45 patients (36 cancers and 9 benign pancreatic lesions) using a 22 Gauge fine needle either percutaneously in 25 patients with real-time ultrasonic guidance or during surgery in 20 patients. Cytologic examination included a precise description and the classification in one of the 4 Papanicolaou classes, the fourth only being considered as positive in terms of cancer. No complication occurred with either technic. Overall sensitivity was 75 p. 100, 74 p. 100 percutaneously and 77 p. 100 intraoperatively, but specificity was 78 p. 100 due to two false-positive results recorded among the 9 benign lesions. Retrospective analysis of cytologic examinations of the 29 class IV lesions led us to differentiate cases with "sure malignancy" (20 cases) from those with "strong suspicion of malignancy" (9 cases including the 2 false-positives). Only class IV lesions with "sure malignancy" call for aggressive treatment, whereas a "strong suspicion of malignancy", which may result from carcinoma or severe cellular abnormalities occasionally found in inflammatory pancreatic lesions, should lead to a second pancreatic aspiration.