Needle aspiration biopsy. A safe diagnostic procedure for lesions of the pancreas.

Thin-needle aspiration biopsy of the pancreas is a safe, accurate procedure that may be used for immediate diagnosis at the time of laparotomy. Twenty-eight aspiration biopsies of the pancreas were examined. Of the 18 cases of carcinoma, 16 were correctly diagnosed, one was considered atypical, and no abnormal cells were seen in one specimen. All ten of the cases diagnosed as benign are apparently free of pancreatic malignancy. The tumor cells are easily identifiable. No complication followed the procedure.