Percutaneous aspiration of retroperitoneal lymph nodes in ovarian cancer

Nine percutaneous lymph node aspirations were performed on six patients with ovarian carcinoma. Two aspirations were performed for initial staging, while seven were done as part of the restaging evaluation. Seven of the aspirations were positive for tumor. Two aspirations were negative, one of which was surgically confirmed. In five instances the percutaneous aspiration saved the patient an operative procedure. Percutaneous lymph node aspiration is valuable when tissue is required to confirm metastatic disease during staging evaluation, especially with equivocal or atypical lymphograms. The procedure is also useful in assessing abnormal lymphograms that persist after therapy.