Pretreatment scalene node biopsy in cervical carcinoma

To evaluate incidence of scalene node metastases from carcinoma of the cervix, 20 patients had scalene fat-pad node biopsy. All cases were staged according to FIGO criteria and abdominal lymph nodes were studied by CT and lymphangiography. Scalene node metastases were found in 2 patients with clinically suspicious node and pelvic and paraaortic nodes involvement. Seven patients had sinus histiocytosis in scalene node biopsy and this seems related to a more favourable prognosis. From this study it appears that scalene node biopsy is not a routine procedure and should be performed in all patients with palpable supraclavicular masses or when paraortic nodes are involved.