[Puncture biopsy of peripheral lymph nodes and subcutaneous masses]

Ninety-one consecutive patients with known diagnosis of lung cancer or clinically suspicious malignant tumour underwent fine needle aspiration biopsy of enlarged peripheral lymph nodes or subcutaneous nodular lesions. There were performed 105 fine needle biopsies. Cytological findings of diagnostic value were found out in 56 (53.3%) of cases. Fine needle aspiration biopsy of peripheral lymph nodes and subcutaneous lesions is a simple and valuable method for staging and in some cases for diagnosis of lung tumours.