[Fine needle aspiration biopsy of abdominal and retroperitoneal tumours under ultasonic guidance (author's transl)].

In 94 patients with tumours of the abdomen or the retroperitoneal space detected by ultrasonography fine needle aspiration puncture was performed under ultrasonic control. The aspirated material was stained with Pappenheim's solution for cytological examination. In 86 patients the diagnosis was definitely established. Of 49 patients with malignant growths (liver 35, kidney 9, colon 2, subcutaneous tissue 2, pancreas 1) tumour cells were gained in 40. In 4 other pathients the cytological findings were suspicious of malignancy. In 37 patients with benign processes (liver 35, subcutaneous tissue 2) no false-positive diagnosis was made. Complications induced by the puncture, especially hemorrhage were not encountered. The combined ultrasonic-cytological examination is simple, fast, almost riskless and well-tolerated. It allows to avoid other more expensive methods to obtain tumour material which usually carry some risk. It is especially valuable as a screening method for malignant growth in the abdominal cavity and the retroperitoneum.