Ultrastructural aspects of human liver tumours collected by thin needle aspiration biopsy

Fourteen liver tumor samples, obtained by echographically-guided thin needle aspiration biopsy were electron microscopically studied, pointing out the ultrastructural aspects that allowed the diagnosis of primary and secondary liver neoplasia, and those providing indications for malignancy degrees. Criteria of electronoptic differential diagnosis between dysplastic and malignant lesions are presented. The paper suggests that electron microscopy may be helpful in establishing the forms of liver carcinoma, difficult to be determined only by cytologic examination, and for the early diagnosis mandatory to increase the resectability rate of malignant hepatoma.