Fine-needle percutaneous biopsy. A useful evaluation of lymph node metastasis from prostate cancer

When fine-needle aspiration biopsy is combined with bipedal lymphangiography, the presence of nodal metastases can be determined histologically without an open surgical procedure. Thirty-five patients with carcinoma of the prostate who had "positive" or "suspicious" lymphangiograms underwent fine-needle aspiration biopsy of the involved node. The diagnosis of metastatic disease was confirmed cytologically in 10 of 20 patients with "definitely positive" x-ray films and 9 of 15 patients with "suspicious" x-ray films. Over-all, nodal metastases were confirmed cytologically without surgical exploration in 19 of 36 patients (54%). No complications were encountered.