Comparison of cytologic examination of smears and histologic examination of tissue cores obtained by fine needle aspiration biopsy of the liver.

Biopsies of 30 consecutive suspected liver cancers were performed with 19-gauge fine needles having circumferentially bevelled tips that produced tiny tissue cores suitable for histologic study. The histologic results were compared with the cytologic results on aspirates obtained at the same time with 22-gauge Chiba needles. While cytologic examination of the aspiration smears produced better results than did histologic study of the tiny tissue cores, an improved overall accuracy of 86% was achieved with the combined cytologic and histologic results. The FNA core biopsy technique did not increase the complication rate.