Fine-needle aspiration of the liver and pancreas: a cytology primer for radiologists.

Fine-needle aspiration (FNA) is increasing in popularity as a means of diagnosing mass lesions in intraabdominal organs. With use of radiologic guidance for needle placement, this technique is an effective way to obtain diagnostic material. In selected instances, FNA is superior to core-needle or open biopsy in terms of cost, procedure-associated morbidity, and timeliness of diagnosis. This article summarizes the cytologic features of hepatic and pancreatic lesions most likely to be seen in an active interventional radiologic practice. The specific cytopathologic findings of the more common lesions are emphasized. The authors also discuss some of the limitations of FNA and how to optimize the procurement and utilization of specimen material to obtain the best possible diagnostic outcome.