SOLITARY ANGIOMYOLIPOMA OF THE LIVER - REPORT OF A CASE WITH DIAGNOSIS BY FINE-NEEDLE ASPIRATION BIOPSY

Solitary angiomyolipoma is a benign tumor that rarely develops in the liver. The preoperative diagnosis of this lesion is of great value bec ause of the therapeutic implications. Radiologic findings are relative ly characteristic but not specific. A case of giant angiomyolipoma of the liver is described in which ultrasonography, computed tomography a nd magnetic resonance imaging were insufficient to establish the diagn osis. Fine needle aspiration biopsy (FNAB) was performed, showing bund les of smooth muscle cells intermingled with fat mature cells, charact eristic of this lesion. FNAB may be a valuable method of establishing a definitive diagnosis of hepatic angiomyolipoma.