[Unexplained fever or inflammatory syndrome. Diagnostic value of liver puncture-biopsy]

The value of transcutaneous biopsy of the liver was assessed in a series of 110 cases of fever of unknown origin or of unexplained inflammatory syndrome. Liver histology was useful to the ultimate etiological diagnosis in 12 cases (11 per cent). The result of a transcutaneous biopsy of the liver was considered an essential aid to the ultimate diagnosis in 7 of these 12 cases. A hepatic lesion regarded as useless for the ultimate diagnosis was present in 16 cases (14.5 per cent). In the other cases, hepatic histology was normal or showed a non-specific reactive hepatitis. Unicteric cholestasis was present in 73 per cent of the cases but was of no predictive value for the detection of a useful hepatic lesion. On the other hand, serum transaminase levels were significantly higher when a useful lesion of the liver was observed.