Hepatic cysts: diagnosis and therapy by sonographic needle aspiration

Abstract

Seven patients with a sonographicdiagnosisof hepatic cyst underwentsonography guided percutaneous aspiration for definitive diagnosis. In three patients the percuta neous puncture also afforded effective therapeutic decompression. Hepatic cyst punc ture, like the more widely used percutaneous renal cyst puncture, may be useful In excluding the possibIlityof a necrotic malignant tumor or an abscess.