Biochemical and cytological analyses of cystic fluid aspirated by percutaneous puncture under ultrasonic guidance in cystic diseases of the pancreas.

Ultrasonically guided percutaneous puncture of pancreatic cyst was performed on 4 patients with ultrasonically scanned cystic mass lesions in the left upper quadrant, and biochemical and cytological analyses of the aspirated cystic fluids were proved fairly diagnostic. In pseudocyst, the aspirated fluid revealed very high concentration of amylase, malignant cells being not recognized cytologically. In cystadenocarcinoma, the aspirated fluid revealed low concentrations of amylase and high concentrations of LDH and CEA, malignant cells being definitely recognized. This method is of great value for differential diagnosis of cystic diseases of the pancreas.