[Failure factors of guided puncture of hepatic masses]

This study was carried out to assess the failure factors of guided hepatic mass puncture in 320 biopsies. Results of the puncture, follow-up or surgery allowed us to divide 320 biopsies into true positives or false negatives. Compared with the group of true positive diagnosis, the group of false negative diagnosis revealed a significantly higher percentage either of lesions less than 2 cm (52.5% versus 34%), of benign tumors (19% versus 5%), or of pseudotumors (24% versus 1.5%). Compared with the group with cytology and histology diagnosis, the group in which only histology established the diagnosis revealed a significantly higher percentage of hepatocellular carcinoma (52.5% versus 34%) and of benign tumors (21% versus 0%). A diameter less than 2 cm, a histology of benign tumors or pseudotumors, are failure factors of guided biopsy. The use of histology is useful for the diagnosis of benign tumors and increases the accuracy of diagnosis for hepatocellular carcinoma.