Beschreibung:
<jats:title>Abstract</jats:title><jats:p>During the years 1975–1985, fine‐needle aspiration biopsy of the liver was performed in 655 patients. The procedure entailed no complications. In 302 (46%) cases, the samples contained malignant cells; in 238 (36%), liver cells; in 46 (7%), cells suspected of malignancy; in 69 (11%) of cases, the samples were unsatisfactory. The medical records of 242 patients were reviewed. Based on the results of different examinations, it was established that 149 patients had liver metastases and 62 did not. In 31 patients, evaluation could not be done owing to insufficient data. The cytological findings were compared with the results of liver scintiscan. Alcaline phosphatase, serum gamma‐glutamyltranspeptidase, and histological diagnoses. There were no false‐positive cytological diagnoses. False‐negative diagnoses were found in 14% of cases. Cytologically positive samples from known primaries were reviewed. It has been established that pallisade‐like formations are characteristic for metastases of intestinal carcinoma; usually in these cases, necrotic material and inflammatory cells were found as well. Diagn Cytopathol 1987;3:278‐83.</jats:p>