[Informative value of various methods of intraoperative biopsy of the pancreatic head]

A comparative estimation of different methods of biopsy of the pancreatic head performed during operation on 192 patients with indurative diseases and cancer of the pancreatic head was made. The results of these investigations were compared with clinical and diagnostic findings before operation and with long-term results of the treatment. Two-lumen thick needle biopsy (the needle diameter 2 mm) of the pancreatic head proved to be most informative. In spite of the relatively high informative value of this method in cases of pseudotumorous pancreatitis (92%) the possibility of pancreatic head cancer is thought to be still underestimated in all diagnostic steps including the pre- and intraoperative stages.