Fine Needle Aspiration in the Diagnosis of Liver Neoplasms: A Review

Fine needle aspiration biopsy (FNAB) for the diagnosis of liver neo plasms is a safe, rapid, and accurate technique. It is most useful in patients with a hepatic mass(es) and a previously diagnosed malignant neoplasm. W ith the current application of immunocytochemical techniques, accurate cytologic diagnoses can be made in most primary and secondary hepatic neoplasms. The equipm ent necessary to perform FNAB is simple, inex pensive, and readily available. The principle of this technique is to obtain a representative cellular aspirate via a small bore needle and produce a s tained im age on a m icroscopic slide tha t reflec ts the disease p roc ess in the patients. Techniques and clinical skills of FNAB and experi ences of interpretation are required to make maximal use of this diagnos tic modality