| Abstract: | The results of 209 liver biopsy needle washings were compared with the corresponding histologic findings. An effort was made to distinguish major categories of liver disease on the basis of cytologic findings. Pigment identification and fat quantitation were also evaluated. It was found that it was often possible to determine whether a liver needle washing was normal or abnormal; however, it was rarely possible to provide specific diagnoses. Pure fatty change and primary cholestasis could be reliably differentiated from the steatosis and bile plugging seen in other liver disorders. Cirrhosis could be suggested in a limited number of cases, although in most cases the findings were nonspecific. Cytology was found to be less reliable than biopsy in the discrimination between the major pigments. Finally, cytology was an acceptable method for detecting and quantitating fatty change. |
