[Problems of the diagnostic value of an urgent biopsy]

Under consideration were some aspects of the diagnostic value of urgent biopsy, based on the vast materials submitted by a pathoanatomical department of the Provincial Hospital and Oncological Dispensary for a 5-year period (1974--1978). Gross errors in the urgent diagnosis were found to be in 3.24% (216 biopsies) and in 1.41% (931 biopsies) as compared with the results obtained after the routine investigation as well as the examination mostly of the whole operation material, obtained later. The errors may be due to underestimation of some findings and overestimation of the others, an inadequately selected site for investigation as well as some objective factors, related to limitations of the urgent biopsy technic and emergency of its use.