[Fine needle biopsy of the pancreas with computerized tomography control]

The results of 96 computed tomography guided percutaneous pancreatic aspiration biopsies were reviewed and compared with the findings at laparotomy or autopsy or with a follow-up of at least one year. In only four instances the follow-up was inadequate and in 29 cases the specimen did not allow a cytologic or histologic diagnosis. Of the remaining 67 biopsies 65 were diagnosed correctly and only 2 incorrectly. This corresponds to a sensitivity of 67.7% and a specificity of 97%. In patients with primary pancreatic cancer the figures for sensitivity or specificity are 76.8% and 97.3% respectively. We did not observe any serious complications. Only one patient had a transient rise of the serum amylase. We believe that the percutaneous aspiration biopsy of the pancreas guided by computed tomography is a safe and effective method in the histologic and cytologic diagnosis of pancreatic lesions.