Analysis of three-dimensional architecture in Feulgen-stained fine-needle liver aspirates, using confocal scanning laser microscopy.

Early and accurate diagnosis of hepatocellular carcinoma in liver nodules using fine-needle aspiration biopsy can still pose difficulties, particularly in cirrhotic nodules containing dysplastic hepatocytes. Loss of architectural clues, which may aid diagnosis, can be overcome by using confocal scanning laser microscopic examination of tissue fragments in smears without the need for further processing of slides. The basic fuchsin of the Feulgen method resulted in excellent confocal images without the need for further processing of the smears. Clear morphological differences in three-dimensional reconstructions of optically sectioned tissue fragments were demonstrated in normal, hyperplastic, and malignant smears as an aid to diagnosis