[Ultrasound guided fine- and coarse-needle puncture of the abdominal and retroperitoneal space]

Within a period of 21 months, 167 fine-needle and 86 cannula (1.67 mm external diameter) punctures of the abdominal or retroperitoneal space were performed under sonographic control. Sufficient material was obtained with 93.4% of fine-needle punctures. With regard to differentiation between malignant and benign lesions, fine-needle punctures had a sensitivity of 86% and specificity of 100%, if the material was examined by an experienced cytologist. Sensitivity dropped to 55,1% if the same material was interpreted by a less experienced cytologist, but specificity was still 98.1%. Sufficient material for histological examination was always obtained with the cannula, already at the first puncture. With cannula puncture there were two complications: bleeding requiring transfusion and peritonitis.