[Can histological diagnosis of hepatic metastases be made by fine needle? Apropos of 70 hepatic punctures guided by echography].

The fine needle diagnosis of a malignant hepatic tumour is usually based on the cytology of the specimen. There have been very few reports concerning the possibilities of histological examination using the same needle. The authors report the histological results of 70 cases of aspiration biopsy of malignant hepatic tumours. They stress the importance of ultrasound guidance. The aspiration biopsy diagnosed the malignancy in 86 p. cent of cases. The difference between a primary tumour and a secondary tumour was established in 85 p. cent of cases and, in the group of 34 cases of hepatic metastases, the primary tumour was identified in 75 p. cent of cases. No complications were observed. The use of real time ultrasonography allows the visualisation of the needle throughout its course, so that large intra-hepatic vessels can be avoided and enabling the aspiration of deep intra-hepatic metastases and the aspiration of the periphery of necrotic tumours.