RESUMO
This study was carried out on fifty-four patients [thirty-five males and nineteen females with ages ranged from three years to seventy-two years] with normal prothrombin concentration. They had suspicious malignant hepatic focal lesions diagnosed by clinical and sonographic examinations. The sonographic picture of hepatic focal lesions was classified according to site [thirty-seven in right lobe and seventeen in left lobe], echogenicity [forty-seven solid and seven cystic], depth [forty-four deep and ten superficial], size [forty- three large and eleven small] and number of focal lesions [thirty- eight single and sixteen multiple]. Ultrasonically guided tru-cut and fine needle aspiration biopsy was done. Cytological and electromicroscopical examinations of specimens obtained by aspiration and histopathological examinations for TRU-cut specimens were carried out. Fine needle aspiration was done in negative cases. The positive results by aspiration cytology were 81.5% and for core biopsy technique 66.7%. Combining both methods, the positive results could increase up to 90.7%. Positive aspiration cytological results increased in cystic, left lobe, superficial and small lesions in contrast to TRU-cut. Also, repeated aspiration in negative cases increased the positive results. Application of electromicroscopical scanning to cytodiagnosis permitted the assessment of cell surface by which they can differentiate between cancer and non-cancer cells. This study could be used for follow up of cases after surgery, chemotherapy or irradiation. It is less risky than conventional surgical biopsy and is usually done in out-patients clinics with minimal complications