[Etiological diagnosis of hepatic masses by percutaneous puncture guided by ultrasonics. Study carried out in patients without known neoplasms]. / Diagnostic étiologique des masses hépatiques par la ponction percutanée guidée par les ultra-sons. Etude réalisée chez des malades sans néoplasie connue.

ABSTRACT

Ultrasonically guided liver puncture was carried out in 26 patients without overt carcinoma, who presented with a small intrahepatic mass giving an ultrasonographic image of primary or secondary tumour. Puncture was performed with a lumbar or a Chiba needle under local anaesthesia, and a real-time ultrasound apparatus with guide was used. The specimens collected were fixed on slides for histological examination. An aetiological diagnosis was made in 73% of the cases (16 carcinomas and 3 liver abscesses). No abnormal cells were detected and further investigations were conducted in 15%. The failure rate was 12% (2 punctures without specimens and 1 false-negative result). No infectious or haemorrhagic complication was observed.