1984 Volume 23 Issue 1 Pages 24-32
Percutaneous aspiration biopsy of the pancreas using a heparinized 22-gauge fine needle was performed under ultrasonic guidance in 5 patients with benign pancreatic disease and 15 patients with pancreatic cancer. With this method, with heparinized needle and syringe, it was possible to centrifuge the materials obtained and make good smears containing abundant tumor cells, and to obtain small tissue specimens. Tissue fragments were fi xed and embedded by routine electron microscopic examination. Ultrathin sections were made and usually stained by Azan-Mallory stain. Correct diagnosis was cytologically made in all 20 patients suspected of having pancreatic malignancy. Histological specimens were obtained from 16 (80.0%) of 20 patients and correct diagnosis was histologically made in all patients from which histological materials were obtained. Cytological and histological microphotographs of the normal pancreas, pancreatitis and pancreatic cancer were presented. The sensitivity and specificity of this procedure for pancreatic cancer were 100%. Therefore, this procedure is a very reliable method for diagnosis of pancreatic cancer.
