BACKGROUND: Early detection of @entity39 has a major impact on further management and outcome in acute @entity788 . The aim of this study was to evaluate the clinical value of ultrasonographically guided fine-needle aspiration cytology (FNAC) in @entity1 with @entity788 over an 8-year period. METHODS: From January 1988 to September 1996 193 (mean 2.0 (range 1-9) @entity1173 per @entity1 ) prospectively assessed FNACs guided ultrasonographically were performed in 98 @entity1 with @entity788 proven by contrast-enhanced computed tomography. Aspirates were considered infected if either Gram stain and/or culture revealed micro-organisms. RESULTS: Ultrasonographically guided FNAC correctly diagnosed infection in 29 of 33 @entity1 with infected @entity39 a median of 13 days after onset of symptoms. Of 61 @entity1 with sterile @entity39 55 were identified correctly as sterile by FNAC. There were six false-positive and four false-negative aspirates of which nine occurred during the first week of the disease. In four @entity1 who did not undergo operation FNAC revealed Gram-negative organisms; however, in the absence of repeated @entity1173 , the positive results remained unconfirmed. An overall sensitivity of 88 per cent and a specificity of 90 per cent was obtained. No difference was found in biochemical and clinical parameters indicating @entity1850 before each FNAC between @entity1 with proven sterile or infected @entity39 . All @entity1 tolerated the procedure well and no major complications were observed. CONCLUSION: Ultrasonographically guided FNAC is a fast and reliable technique for the diagnosis of infected @entity39 . As complication rates are very low, the procedure can be repeated at short intervals to improve the diagnostic accuracy. Ultrasonographically guided FNAC is recommended for all @entity1 with @entity788 in whom @entity1850 persists beyond the first week after onset of symptoms.

Role of ultrasonographically guided fine-needle aspiration cytology in the diagnosis of XXXX .

@entity1 :: ('9606', 'Species') :: ['patients', 'patient'] @entity788 :: ('MESH:D010190', 'Disease') :: ['pancreatitis', 'necrotizing pancreatitis'] @entity39 :: ('MESH:D009336', 'Disease') :: ['necrosis', 'infected pancreatic necrosis'] @entity1850 :: ('MESH:D018746', 'Disease') :: ['systemic inflammatory response syndrome'] @entity1173 :: ('MESH:D053120', 'Disease') :: ['aspirations']
@entity39 :: (MESH:D009336,Disease) :: ['infected pancreatic necrosis']
