Fine-needle biopsy of the pancreas using real-time ultrasonography.

Percutaneous fine-needle biopsy of the pancreas by real-time ultrasonography was performed in 45 patients with suspected pancreatic carcinoma. True-positive diagnoses were obtained in 27 cases, 11 examinations yielded true-negative results, 3 results were false-negative, 2 were equivocal, and 2 samples were inadequate. The overall success rate was 84.4%. No false-positive cytologic diagnoses were made. Complications were not seen in any of the patients. The results confirm the effectiveness, safety, and relatively low cost of this procedure.