BACKGROUND: Fine needle aspiration cytology (FNAC) is a less invasive, inexpensive and rapid method for pathologic evaluation of hepatic masses. This study was to investigate the role of fine needle aspiration cytology in the early diagnosis of liver disease.
METHODS: Fourty-six patients received fine needle (1 mm diameter or 18G) aspiration for the diagnosis of liver disease under ultrasonography or computed tomography guidance. The diagnosis was verified by using hematoxylin and eosin (HE) staining and immunohistochemistry.
RESULTS: Of the 46 patients, 19 had hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), 2 cholangiocarcinoma, 1 lymphoma, 1 carcinoid tumor, 1 squamous cell carcinoma, 1 tuberculosis, 14 no abnormality, and 6 red blood cells. Cytological diagnosis of 3 patients was inconsistent with histological diagnosis after surgery: incorrect diagnosis (2), and false-negative for failure of aspiration (1).
CONCLUSIONS: Cytological diagnosis should mostly depend on cellular morphology. In addition, immunohistochemistry and special staining are helpful for diagnosis if cytologic preparation is available. Fine needle aspiration cytology of the liver is a diagnostic method that can be used to identify the vast majority of neoplasms of primary or metastatic nature.