After the presentation of the technique of the aspiration biopsy and the mode of preparation and staining of the smears, the author discusses the usefulness and limitations of this procedure in the diagnosis of benign and malignant lymph node lesions. Studies on blastocytic transformation in short-term tissue cultures in the presence of phytohaemagglutinin have indicated that the cells are unimpaired by the needling and/or the negative pressure used in the aspiration. Since the patient experiences little discomfort from fine needle biopsy, the aspiration biopsy of lymph nodes can also be used for sampling cell material in clinical research. The problem of dissemination of tumor cells via the needle track or efferent lymph or blood vessels is also discussed. The use of fine needle aspiration biopsy in diagnosis of malignant tumors does not appear to involve a risk of tumor spread.
在介绍了针吸活检技术以及涂片的制备和染色方法后，作者讨论了该程序在诊断良性和恶性淋巴结病变中的实用性和局限性。在植物血凝素存在的情况下对短期组织培养中的母细胞转化进行的研究表明，细胞不受针吸时所用针刺和/或负压的影响。由于患者在细针活检时几乎没有不适，淋巴结针吸活检也可用于临床研究中的细胞材料采样。文中还讨论了肿瘤细胞通过针道或输出淋巴管或血管扩散的问题。使用细针针吸活检诊断恶性肿瘤似乎不存在肿瘤扩散的风险。
