EFFUSION CYTOLOGY OF HEPATOCELLULAR-CARCINOMA WITH IN-SITU HYBRIDIZATION FOR HUMAN ALBUMIN

While the cytological features of hepatocellular carcinoma on fine nee dle aspiration cytology are well described, cases of hepatocellular ca rcinoma with malignant cells in ascitic fluid and their characteristic s are not. A patient is described with cirrhosis resulting from chroni c hepatitis B virus infection, ascites, and hepatocellular carcinoma d iagnosed by effusion cytology. The malignant cells in the effusion wer e shown to be positive for alpha fetoprotein using immunocytochemistry , and for human albumin using in situ hybridisation, confirming the di agnosis of hepatocellular carcinoma. Further investigations in a termi nally ill patient were thus avoided.