Transendoscopic fine needle aspiration cytology in the diagnosis of hepatocellular carcinoma.

This report describes the use of transendoscopic fine needle aspiration cytology in the diagnosis of three cases of hepatocellular carcinoma who had presented with large nodular liver and mass impression on the left border of the stomach at endoscopy. Using a 21G, 1.0 cm needle catheter, transendoscopic fine needle aspiration was done under direct endoscopic vision. The aspirate confirmed the diagnosis of hepatocellular carcinoma in all of them.