NEEDLE-BIOPSY - CONTRIBUTION OF FROZEN-SECTIONS READING OF SPECIMENS IN THE DIAGNOSIS OF MALIGNANT LIVER-TUMORS

In this retrospective study, the authors compared the sensitivity and specificity, in terms of the diagnosis of malignancy, of two technique s of ultrasound-guided biopsy of liver tumours. The first technique in volving fine needle biopsy with cytological and histological analysis of the specimen was carried out in 39 patients. A technique using a wi de calibre needle with frozen section examination of the fragment obta ined was performed in 27 patients. All patients had one or more malign ant liver tumours. Sensitivity and specificity of the technique with f rozen section histology were both 100 per cent, while figures for the technique with delayed histological study were 84.6 and 87.4 per cent. This study suggests that frozen section histology might be associated with greater sensitivity than delayed histology.