Ultrasound guided percutaneous fine needle aspiration biopsy (FNAB) of intraabdominal and retroperitoneal masses.

The diagnostic role of ultrasound guided fine needle aspiration biopsy (USG FNAB) was studied in 178 patients with clinically suspected intraabdominal and retroperitoneal masses (liver 81, gall bladder 47, pancreas 21, miscellaneous sites 29). A cytological diagnosis of neoplastic or non-neoplastic lesions was made in 125 patients, giving an overall accuracy of 70.0%. The cytological accuracy in hepatic lesions was 83.9% (68/81), in gall bladder lesions 72.3% (34/47), pancreas 76.1% (16/21) and miscellaneous sites 24.1% (7/29). USG FNAB provides a reliable morphologic diagnosis safely and rapidly. This may be especially helpful in patients with advanced unresectable intraabdominal malignancies, and may avoid diagnostic surgical intervention.