Usefulness of laparo- or retroperitoneoscopic biopsy for retroperitoneal lymph node swelling of unknown origin

Laparo- or retroperitoneoscopic biopsy was performed for five male patients with retroperitoneal lymph node swelling of unknown origin. Previous core needle biopsies were useless or inapplicable in all patients. A laparoscopic approach was used for two patients, with a retroperitoneoscopic approach for the remaining three patients. Sufficient specimens for not only pathological diagnosis but also further examinations such as immunophenotyping or DNA analysis were safely obtained. Convalescence was satisfactory and all patients were treated appropriately according to the resulting diagnosis. This technique should be performed by urologists, who are more familiar with laparo- or retroperitoneoscopic approach targeting retroperitoneal organs.