Paclitaxel plus bevacizumab or paclitaxel as first-line treatment for HER2-negative metastatic breast cancer in a multicenter national observational study.

BACKGROUND: Bevacizumab combined with paclitaxel as first-line chemotherapy for patients with HER2-negative metastatic breast cancer (MBC) has led to mixed results in randomized trials, with an improvement in progression-free survival (PFS) but no statistically significant overall survival (OS) benefit. Real-life data could help in assessing the value of this combination. PATIENTS AND METHODS: This study aimed to describe the outcome following first-line paclitaxel with or without bevacizumab in the French Epidemiological Strategy and Medical Economics (ESME) database of MBC patients, established in 2014 by Unicancer. The primary and secondary end points were OS and PFS, respectively. RESULTS: From 2008 to 2013, 14 014 MBC patient files were identified, including 10 605 patients with a HER2-negative status. Of these, 3426 received paclitaxel and bevacizumab (2127) or paclitaxel (1299) as first-line chemotherapy. OS adjusted for major prognostic factors was significantly longer in the paclitaxel and bevacizumab group compared with paclitaxel [hazard ratio (HR) 0.672, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.601-0.752; median survival time 27.7 versus 19.8 months]. Results were consistent in all supportive analyses (using a propensity score for adjustment and as a matching factor for nested case-control analyses) and sensitivity analyses. Similar results were observed for the adjusted PFS, favoring the combination (HR 0.739, 95% CI 0.672-0.813; 8.1 versus 6.4 months). CONCLUSIONS: In this large-scale, real-life setting, patients with HER2-negative MBC who received paclitaxel plus bevacizumab as first-line chemotherapy had a significantly better OS and PFS than those receiving paclitaxel. Despite robust methodology, real-life data are exposed to important potential biases, and therefore, results need to be treated with caution. Our data cannot therefore support extension of current use of bevacizumab in MBC.

Port catheter versus peripherally inserted central catheter for postoperative chemotherapy in early breast cancer: a retrospective analysis of 448 patients.

PURPOSE: We aimed to compare the complication rate between port catheters (PC) and peripherally inserted central catheters (PICC) for the administration of postoperative chemotherapy for breast cancer. METHODS: All patients treated from January 2010 to August 2012 at the Centre Henri Becquerel for early breast cancer requiring postoperative chemotherapy were retrospectively screened. The primary endpoint was the occurrence of a major complication related to the central venous catheter. Major complications were defined as any grade 3 event according to CTCAE 4.0, delay in chemotherapy >7 days, change of the device, life-threatening event, event requiring a hospitalization, or a prolongation of hospitalization. RESULTS: A total of 448 patients were included; 290 had a PC and 158 a PICC. Overall, 31 major complications related to the central venous catheter were observed: 13 for patients with a PC (4.5%) and 18 for patients with a PICC (11.4%). In univariate analysis, having a PICC was the only factor significantly associated with a higher risk of major complications (HR = 2.83, p = 0.0027). We observed a trend for a higher risk of major complications for patients older than 60 years or with BMI >25 (p = 0.06). In multivariate analysis, having a PICC was the only predictive factor of major complications (HR = 2.89, p = 0.004). CONCLUSIONS: In univariate and multivariate analysis, having a PICC instead of a PC was the only predictive factor of device-related major complication. If confirmed prospectively by the NCT02095743 ongoing trial, this result might modify the management of adjuvant chemotherapy administration.

High rate of extra-haematological toxicity compromises dose-dense sequential adjuvant chemotherapy for breast cancer.

BACKGROUND: A dose-dense strategy has been considered to improve results of adjuvant chemotherapy for breast cancer. This randomised phase II trial investigated the feasibility of this approach with sequential anthracyclines and taxanes-based chemotherapy. METHODS: Patients with high-risk node-positive breast cancer were treated with three cycles of fluorouracil 500 mg m(-2), epirubicin 100 mg m(-2), cyclophosphamide 500 mg m(-2) (FEC 100) followed by three cycles of docetaxel 100 mg m(-2) delivered at 2-weekly intervals supported by primary prophylaxis with filgrastim. All patients were randomised to either uninterrupted treatment (arm A) or to have a 2-week additional period of rest between the FEC and docetaxel (arm B). The primary endpoint was the rate of success of chemotherapy delivery. Using a two-stage Fleming design, 120 patients were required with one interim analysis. RESULTS: In March 2005, enrolment was stopped into arm A after the observation of severe skin toxicities. Following the planned interim analysis, the study was closed because of the high rate of grade 3/4 skin toxicities in both arms (arm A: 32.4% and arm B: 18.9%). CONCLUSION: Sequential dose-dense FEC 100 followed by docetaxel 100 mg m(-2) is not feasible. Feasibility still depends largely on several factors including the choice of drugs, dosage and sequence of administration.

[Computed tomography of the normal and pathologic temporal bone]. / Anatomie tomodensitométrique de l'oreille normale et malformée.

High-resolution computed tomography scanning (CT) allows depiction of microanatomic structures of the temporal bone. CT is useful for detecting several pathologic conditions of the temporal bone such as congenital malformations, particularly in young children with sensorineural hearing loss. Some external, middle and inner ear structures are difficult to evaluate. The objective of this study has been to provide the key planes in coronal and axial planes (five coronal planes and three axial planes) but also with oblique planes reconstruction (two planes) for normal temporal bones evaluation. These standardized planes help to improve visualization of the main congenital malformations. Identification of obvious morphogenetic malformations (Michel aplasia, Mondini deformity….) is not difficult. However, less severe dysplasia may be missed or normal micro anatomic structures in newborn misreaded.

Clinical value of circulating endothelial cells and circulating tumor cells in metastatic breast cancer patients treated first line with bevacizumab and chemotherapy.

BACKGROUND: We investigated whether circulating tumor cells (CTCs) and circulating endothelial cells (CECs) predict clinical outcome of first-line chemotherapy combined with bevacizumab in metastatic breast cancer patients. PATIENTS AND METHODS: In a French substudy of the MO19391 trial, CTC and CEC counts (CellSearch system) at baseline and changes after two cycles of treatment were correlated with time to progression (TtP). RESULTS: CTC and CEC levels were not correlated in the 67 patients included. At baseline, CTC positivity was a significant prognostic marker for TtP at a threshold of 3 CTC/7.5 ml (P < 0.05) but not at 5 CTC/7.5 ml (P = 0.09). Baseline CEC levels (median 17 CEC/4 ml, range 1-769) were associated with age > or =45 years (P = 0.01), elevated lactate dehydrogenase (P < 0.01) and not with TtP at any threshold. Changes of CTC count during treatment were not a surrogate of TtP, with any of the model tested (threshold based or relative decrease in percent). However, increase in CEC count was associated with improved TtP, at the threshold of 20 CEC/4 ml (P < 0.01). CONCLUSION: Bevacizumab combined with first-line chemotherapy may modify the predictive value of CTC during treatment possibly due to impaired tumor cells intravasation through vessels endothelium. Variations in CEC levels appear to be a promising early surrogate marker of TtP under antiangiogenic treatment.

[MR spectroscopy of the prostate with external surface coils: clinical feasibility]. / Spectro-IRM de prostate avec antennes externes: faisabilité en pratique clinique?

PURPOSE: To determine the clinical feasibility of MR spectroscopy (MRS) of prostate cancer using external multi-channel surface coils at 1.5T. Materials and methods. Retrospective study of 31 patients with prostate cancer who underwent MRS as part of the staging work-up prior to radical prostatectomy. The ratio of the three main metabolites ([choline + creatine]/citrate) were measured along with spectral analysis of different regions of interest (ROI) placed in areas of normal tissue and cancer using the surgical specimen as the standard of reference. RESULTS: One hundred and eighty-three voxels were analyzed. Qualitative visual analysis identified pathological spectra in 88.5% of cancer ROI, 11.7% of normal transitional zone ROI and 1.6% of normal peripheral zone ROI. The ratios of normal prostate tissue were significantly more elevated (p<0.0001) in the transition zone (0.41 +/- 0.24) than in the peripheral zone (0.22 +/- 0.36). Tumor containing voxels had significantly higher ratios (2.84 +/- 2.74) than normal tissue containing voxels of the transition zone (p<0.0001) and peripheral zone (p<0.0001). CONCLUSION: Prostate MRS using external surface coils appears routinely feasible at 1.5T, even though it presents some limitations.

[Usefulness of CA 15-3 for ten years follow-up of a patient with invasive breast cancer]. / Apport du CA 15.3 dans la prise en charge sur plus de 10 ans d'une patiente atteinte d'un cancer du sein invasif.

This clinical report illustrates the usefulness of routine CA 15.3 assay during the follow-up of patients treated for invasive breast cancer. This patient presented an isolated elevation of CA 15.3 eighteen months after initial treatment of inflammatory breast cancer. The scientific committee for breast cancer decided to modify the hormonotherapy, even without clinical or radiological event (tomodensitometry, echography, scintigraphy). The prompt CA 15.3 normalization persisted for more than seven years. When CA 15.3 levels increased again, a positron emission tomodensitometry was performed and revealed pulmonary nodes. The sole modification of hormone treatment, based upon isolated increase of CA 15.3, led to seven years of clinical and biological stability for our patient with probable pulmonary metastases.

[Sudden deafness: value of imaging. Results from a prospective study of 37 patients]. / Surdités brusques: intérêt de l'imagerie. A propos d'une étude prospective de 37 cas.

PURPOSE: Review the CT and MR imaging findings in patients with sudden deafness (SD). PATIENTS AND METHODS: Thirty-seven patients with SD were prospectively included. All patients underwent MR evaluation of the brain and temporal bones to exclude classical etiologies such as vestibular schwannoma. CT of the temporal bones was also performed to exclude lesions of the bony labyrinth. A total of 100 CT examinations of the temporal bone in control subjects were reviewed and measurements obtained to establish a reference standard to compare to findings in our patient population. RESULTS: Findings included: vestibular schwannoma in 2.7%, labyrinthine hemorrhage in 8.1%, bony labyrinthine anomaly in 59.5% according to our criteria, and significantly more frequent than in our control subjects, including dehiscence of the superior semicircular canal in 8.1%, lateral semicircunal canal anomaly in 27% and vestibular anomaly in 16.2%. CONCLUSION: Some of the classical etiologies of SD were detected in our patient population, along with a high prevalence of size or morphological anomalies of the bony labyrinth, diagnosed in most cases from systematic measurements from CT images. In time, MRI should also allow detection of these abnormalities and diagnosis of lesions currently not detectable on MRI.

[Routine use of serial plasmatic CA 15-3 determinations during the follow-up of patients treated for breast cancer. Evaluation as factor of early diagnosis of recurrence]. / Utilisation en routine du CA 15.3 dans la surveillance des patientes traitées pour un cancer du sein invasif. Impact en termes de diagnostic précoce de récidive.

PURPOSE: at our institution, CA 15-3 assays are routinely used for the early diagnosis of recurrence during the follow-up of patients treated for breast cancer, although published guidelines do not recommend this procedure. So, we decided to totally re-assess the usefulness of this policy. PATIENTS AND METHODS: all records of patients presenting a first recurrence, local (50 cases) or metastatic (88 cases), of breast cancer during 2003 were re-examined. An increase in CA 15-3 concentration of more than 25% was considered significant. RESULTS: an increase was observed in 18% of non metastatic recurrences. These increases had a prognostic value. CA 15-3 levels remained stable in 23% of metastasis cases and increased in 77%. In 14% of cases, the increase in CA 15-3 levels confirmed a clinically or radiologically suspected metastasis. Moreover, increased CA 15-3 levels in the absence of suggestive clinical or radiological signs led to the diagnosis in 18% of metastasis, 50% of which involved the bone. CONCLUSION: our study demonstrates that CA 15-3 is useful for the early diagnosis of recurrence. Eighteen per cent of metastases were diagnosed by a marker increase alone. CA 15-3 assays could be useful in the early management of these metastases in patients treated for breast cancer.

[Parotid gland masses: diagnostic value of MR imaging with histopathologic correlations]. / Morphologie IRM des tuméfactions de la glande parotide. Corrélations histopathologiques.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: The purpose of our study has been to describe the pre-operatively MR Imaging appearance of masses in the parotid gland which may be sources of clinical and radiological confusion. METHODS: Sixty-eight adults patients with a parotid mass (39 female, 29 male) has been prospectively investigated. T1-weighted, T2-weighted, diffusion-weighted and contrast-enhanced dynamic MR images were performed by using a 1.5 or 1 T MR Imaging unit (Philips Gyroscan Intera 1.5 T. Siemens Expert 1 T). All patients underwent a parotidectomy with histopathologic analysis. RESULTS-CONCLUSIONS: In case of pleomorphic adenoma (N=30) MR imaging sensibility, specificity and accuracy were respectively 87.5, 80.5 and 83%. In case of Warthin tumors (N=13) the same values were respectively 45.5, 93 and 85%. In case of malignant tumors (N=13) theses values were respectively 71, 89 and 87%. Our routine MR Imaging study appears excellent not only for assessing the type and extent of benign salivary gland tumors and the relationship to adjacent structures, but also for determining whether the tumor is benign or malignant.

Combined treatment with buserelin and tamoxifen in premenopausal metastatic breast cancer: a randomized study.

BACKGROUND: Surgical or medical castration and antiestrogenic treatment with tamoxifen are common endocrine treatments for premenopausal women with breast cancer. However, tamoxifen therapy induces high levels of plasma estradiol, with unknown long-term effects. In this study, we investigated the effect of combining estrogen suppression with the luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone agonist buserelin and estradiol receptor blockade with tamoxifen to determine whether the high estradiol levels induced by tamoxifen could be reduced and whether the antitumor effects would be better. METHODS: In a three-arm, randomized, prospective trial, from 1988 through 1995, a total of 161 premenopausal patients with advanced breast cancer were randomly assigned to treatment with buserelin, tamoxifen, or both. Patients with steroid receptor-negative tumors or with tumors of unknown receptor status who had a disease-free interval of less than 2 years were excluded. The median follow-up was 7.3 years, during which 76% of the patients died, all of breast cancer. Patient and tumor characteristics were well balanced among treatment groups. All P values are from two-sided tests. RESULTS: Combined treatment with buserelin and tamoxifen was superior to treatment with buserelin or tamoxifen alone by objective response rate (48%, 34%, and 28% of patients who could be evaluated, respectively; P =.11 [chi(2) test]), median progression-free survival (9.7 months, 6.3 months, and 5.6 months; P =.03), and overall survival (3.7 years, 2.5 years, and 2.9 years; P =.01). Actuarial 5-year survival percentages were 34.2% (95% confidence interval [CI] = 20.4%-48.0%), 14.9% (95% CI = 3.9%-25.9%), and 18.4% (95% CI = 7.0%-29.8%), respectively. No differences in antitumor effects were observed between single-agent treatment groups. During combined treatment or treatment with buserelin alone, plasma estradiol levels were suppressed equally; in contrast, during treatment with tamoxifen alone, plasma estradiol levels increased threefold to fourfold over pretreatment levels. CONCLUSION: Combined treatment with buserelin and tamoxifen was more effective and resulted in longer overall survival than treatment with either drug alone.

Assessment of estrogenic recruitment before chemotherapy in advanced breast cancer: a double-blind randomized study. European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer Breast Cancer Cooperative Group.

PURPOSE: In the present phase III study, the specific effect of estrogenic recruitment was assessed by comparing two groups of patients with advanced breast cancer receiving either ethinylestradiol (EE2) or placebo (PL) before chemotherapy (CT). PATIENTS AND METHODS: The therapeutic regimen consisted of (1) estrogen suppression by aminoglutethimide (AGL) 1 g/d plus hydrocortisone (HC) 40 mg/d, with surgical castration performed on premenopausal patients; (2) fluorouracil (5-FU) 500 mg/m2, doxorubicin 50 mg/m2, and cyclophosphamide (CPA) 500 mg/m2 (FAC) intravenously (IV) every 3 weeks; (3) following randomization, patients were double-blinded to receive either PL or EE2 50 micrograms exactly 24 hours before receiving FAC. All patients had advanced breast cancer presumably sensitive to endocrine therapy (estrogen receptor-positive [ER+] and/or progesterone receptor-positive [PgR+] status) with measurable lesions; none had received prior systemic antineoplastic therapy for metastatic disease; prior adjuvant hormonal therapy (HT) or CT (without anthracyclines) was allowed if interval since completion was longer than 1 year. RESULTS: Among 154 patients treated according to the protocol, tolerance, response rates, time to progression, and median survival duration were identical in the PL and EE2 groups. Only performance status, dominant metastatic site, and menopausal status seemed to influence response (overall response, 64%), with the highest levels of partial remission (PR) and complete remission (CR) being achieved in premenopausal women (CR plus PR, 26% plus 55%) and in those with dominant soft tissue lesions (CR plus PR, 45% plus 28%). CONCLUSION: We conclude that the validity of the hormonal recruitment concept has not yet been established in clinical practice so that this approach remains experimental. The results achieved by combining (near) complete estrogenic suppression and cyclical FAC chemotherapy are not significantly different from those to be expected with the more conventional use of HT followed by CT in presumably hormone-responsive (ER+) patients.

Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease after extracranial dura mater embolization for a nasopharyngeal angiofibroma.

We report a 25-year-old man with Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (CJD) who had received dura mater embolization in the external carotid artery for a nasopharyngeal angiofibroma 90 months earlier. The patient was heterozygotous (Met/Val) at codon 129. This case suggests that dura mater embolization can be responsible for the CJD.

Assessment of estrogenic recruitment before chemotherapy in advanced breast cancer: preliminary results of a double-blind randomized study of the EORTC Breast Cancer Cooperative Group.

We investigated whether estrogenic recruitment could enhance the antitumor effect of chemotherapy in 165 patients with advanced breast cancer, presumably sensitive to hormonal treatments (ER + and/or PgR + lesions). The therapeutic regimen consisted of: (a) estrogenic suppression by aminoglutethimide 1 g/day + hydrocortisone 40 mg/day; surgical castration in premenopausal patients only; (b) FAC (5FU 500 mg/m2; ADM 50 mg/m2; CPA 500 mg/m2) for 3 weeks; (c) following randomization, exactly 24 h prior to chemotherapy, patients had to take 1 tablet of either placebo (PL) or 50 microgram ethinylestradiol (EE2). Tolerance, responses, time to progression and median survival were identical in both groups. Thus, EE2 before chemotherapy did not contribute to the efficacy of this particular therapeutic regimen, which yielded an overall response rate of 64%. We conclude that the validity of the hormonal recruitment concept has not yet been established in clinical practice, so that this approach remains experimental.

[Rapidly growing breast cancer: results of a retrospective analysis with a study of prognostic factors]. / Cancer du sein en poussée évolutive: résultats d'une analyse rétrospective avec étude des facteurs pronostiques.

Between January 1977 and December 1982, 66 consecutive patients have been treated for unilateral, rapidly progressing, non metastatic breast cancer. They were divided into three groups: Group A (n = 10): tumor whom volume had increased during the 2 months before diagnosis; Group B (n = 30): inflammatory signs (erythema, skin oedema, elevated local temperature) involving less than one half of the breast; Group C (n = 26): inflammatory signs involving more than one half of the breast. All patients where managed similarly: 3 to 4 courses of chemotherapy (CMF: n = 24; AVCF: n = 42), then loco regional irradiation therapy with cobalt 60, followed by maintenance chemotherapy, only if the first chemotherapy had proved effective (CMF: n = 13; AVCF: n = 27). Nine patients with residual tumor after radiotherapy underwent mastectomy with axillary dissection. The actuarial 5 years survival for the whole group is 29%, and respectively 49%, 38% and 9% for the groups A, B and C. The median disease free intervals are 43, 29 and 12 months respectively. Fifteen prognostic factors likely to influence overall survival or disease free survival were evaluated. With univariate analysis, 8 factors were found to be of individual prognostic value: extent of initial erythema, erythema present after initial chemotherapy, erythema present after radiotherapy, non menopaused status, tumor diameter greater than 10 cms, residual breast tumor (clinical or radiographic) after maintenance chemotherapy, supra clavicular adenopathy (N3). Age at the diagnosis, type of chemotherapy, or performance of a radical mastectomy did not influence the prognosis. Multivariate analysis using the Cox-model isolated 3 factors of bad prognosis: erythema involving the whole breast at initial diagnosis, erythema present at the end of initial chemotherapy, N3.

[CA 15.3 and early diagnosis of recurrence in breast cancer]. / CA 15.3 et diagnostic précoce de récidive dans les cancers du sein.

This retrospective study shows the advantage of the CA 15.3 assay for the early detection of relapse in breast cancer. It involved 473 women with invasive canalar carcinoma who had local recurrence or metastasis and/or an elevation of CA 15.3 (> 35 kU/l). The positive predictive value is excellent (97.7%). Sensitivity is poor for local relapse (13.7%), but a marker elevation at this time is a good prognostic factor of further distant metastasis (88%). It is better in the case of distant metastasis (74%), especially in bone and and liver localizations. CA 15.3 measurement at two month intervals may allow an early detection in 40% of distant metastasis. These results confirm the need of trials to test the benefits in terms of survival of early treatment of breast cancer metastasis only proved by CA 15.3 elevation, without any clinical or radiological finding.

[Surgical and radiotherapeutic approaches according to postoperative margins analysis in breast cancer: survey realized in 20 French cancer centers]. / Attitudes chirurgicales et radiothérapiques en fonction de l'analyse des berges-marges dans les tumeurs mammaires: enquête réalisée auprès de 20 centres de lutte contre le cancer.

Margin status is regarded as a major prognostic factor for local recurrence after breast conservative treatment. Margin definition in the literature is not always clear and precise. The impact on the therapeutic management may be quite different. This paper presents the radiotherapeutic attitude according to a survey realized in the twenty French cancer centers. The surgical practice in terms of margins status is appraised. The radiotherapist attitude in terms of boost's modulation is specified.

[Echographic detection of hepatocellular carcinoma in patients hospitalized for cirrhosis]. / Dépistage échographique du carcinome hépatocellulaire chez les patients hospitalisés pour cirrhose.

This study was carried out in order to assess the accuracy of ultrasound in a) screening for hepatocellular carcinoma in patients hospitalized for cirrhosis and b) determining the possibility of hepatic resection. From January 1983 to January 1987, 492 patients with cirrhosis were investigated for hepatocellular carcinoma using clinical examination, serum alphafetoprotein measurement and ultrasound study. Four hundred and thirty-seven patients had alcohol-related cirrhosis (88.8 p. 100); ascites was found in 280 cases (56.9 p.100). Ultrasonography-guided aspiration cytology was performed whenever a tumor was found. Four hundred and nineteen patients underwent ultrasonography and alpha-fetoprotein chemistry. The diagnosis of hepatocellular carcinoma was confirmed in 66 of 419 patients (15.8 p. 100). Sixty of the 88 patients diagnosed as having tumor on ultrasound were found to have hepatocellular carcinoma. In 6 out of 66 patients (9.1 p. 100), the tumor was not identified by ultrasonography but the level of alphafetoprotein was high (greater than 1,000 ng/ml). Sixteen cancers (24.2 p. 100) were diagnosed by ultrasonography only. All patients were men with alcohol-related cirrhosis, their ages ranging from 52 to 82 years. The results of ultrasound investigation were: 8 solitary tumors, 5 multicentric tumors, 3 diffuse tumors. Only 2 of the 16 tumors were resectable. We conclude that ultrasound is an accurate procedure in the diagnosis of hepatocellular carcinoma associated with cirrhosis. However, in hospitalized patients, the value of screening for hepatocarcinoma is small because liver resection is often impossible due to the wide spread tumor involvement or advanced liver cirrhosis at the time of diagnosis. On the other hand, screening should be performed in patients with compensated cirrhosis.

[Comparative study of the data of fine-needle aspiration biopsy and echographic aspects of hepatic tumors as a function of the circumstances of discovery. Apropos of 206 patients]. / Etude comparée des données de la cytoponction à l'aiguille fine et des aspects échographiques des formations tumorales hépatiques en fonction des circonstances de découverte. A propos de 206 patients.

This study was carried out in order to compare the accuracy of ultrasound and ultrasonically guided fine-needle aspiration biopsy in screening for tumoral hepatic syndrome in 206 patients. According to their different clinical presentations, patients were divided into 4 groups: 1: Documented cancer, 2: Hepatic cirrhosis, 3: Fortuitous ultrasonic detection, 4: Clinical hepatic tumor. Cytologic findings were divided into 4 types: benign, primary malignant tumor, secondary malignant tumor (with or without etiologic orientation) non significant result. The ultrasonic and cytologic results were retrospectively compared to definitive diagnosis which was known in 199 patients. No early or delayed complications related to fine-needle aspiration biopsy were recorded. Ultrasonic imaging globally suggested the final diagnosis in 116 patients (diagnostic precision: 58.2 percent) while the cytologic result corresponded to final diagnosis in 183 patients (diagnostic precision: 92.5 percent). Improved results by fine-needle aspiration biopsy with regard to ultrasound was recorded in each group, particularly in group 3; its diagnostic sensitivity was 92 percent for malignant lesions with 100 percent specificity and an excellent value in discriminating between their primitive or secondary nature. Fine-needle aspiration biopsy gave an exact etiologic orientation in half of cases with metastasis and helped to discover the primitive tumor in some patients when this was not known previously. We conclude that fine-needle aspiration biopsy is a simple, moderately invasive and accurate procedure in the diagnosis of hepatic lesions. As ultrasound alone is not suggestive, especially in the case of a fortuitous ultrasonic detection, fine-needle aspiration biopsy improves diagnostic precision.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)