Fine needle aspiration compared with scintigraphy for detection of liver neoplasia.

The diagnostic accuracy of fine needle aspiration and scintigraphy was compared prospectively in a series of cases of suspected liver neoplasm. The results of both techniques showed a close correlation to final diagnosis. Biopsy, easily and rapidly performed with simple equipments, is a cost-saving procedure with as good a sensitivity as scintigraphy. Furthermore, the possible finding of specific cytological pictures of primary liver carcinoma or tumours of the amino precursor uptake decarboxylating cell series lend further weight to the biopsy technique.