[Necrotising pancreatitis after ultrasonically guided fine-needle aspiration biopsy]

Complications after transcutaneous ultrasonically-guided fine-needle aspiration biopsy of the pancreas are exceedingly rare, although published reports mention transitory changes in pancreatic enzymes. Acute necrotising pancreatitis has not previously been reported. It developed in a 40-year-old woman after out-patient fine-needle biopsy because of a space-occupying lesion in the head of the pancreas. Immediate conservative treatment favourably affected the course of the disease, as documented by serial ultrasound and computer tomography. This serious complication suggests that strictest indications for this procedure must be used, together with careful technique of biopsy and strict observation of the patient, if necessary with a brief period of hospitalisation.