Percutaneous transperitoneal aspiration of pancreas guided by ultrasound: morphologic and cytochemical appearance of normal and malignant cells.

A pancreatic aspirate was obtained by fine needle biopsy guided by ultrasound in a patient clinically suspected of having a pancreatic malignancy. The cytomorphologic features of well-differentiated adenocarcinoma are described and illustrated. Comparison is made between the carcinoma and normal pancreatic cells. PAS-Trichrome stain is described as a useful cytochemical technique to properly identify normal acinar and islet cells.