Selective Angiography in Fine-Needle Aspiration Cytodiagnosis of Gastric and Pancreatic Tumours

Selective angiography has proved of great value in facilitating the examination of abdominal vessels and increasing the diagnostic accuracy. Its superiority over non-selective methods is incontestable in morphologic and topographic investigations of organ vasculature (BOIJSEN 1966, SUNDGREN 1969, 1970, REUTER et coll. 1970). The combination of aspiration biopsy considerably improves the results. This form of biopsy, employing a fine needle (OD 0.6 to 0.8 mm), is a standard examination procedure in many hospitals in Sweden when palpable masses are present, e.g. in the breasts, liver, lymph nodes, prostate, salivary glands. Roentgenography with fluoroscopy and TV amplification as a guide to fine-needle aspiration has been reported as giving good results in the diagnosis of pulmonary tumours by DAHLGREN & NORDENSTROM (1966). The difficulty in demonstrating changes in the stomach, and especially in the pancreas, by this method has until now impeded its application in these areas. It has, however, created opportunities for improved accuracy and reliability in the preoperative morphologic diagnosis of lesions by guiding the puncture needle into deep-seated organs.