Lymphangiography as a staging tool for cervix cancer: limited value after hip arthroplasty

Lymphangiography (LAG) is often used in the work-up of cervical carcinoma. A patient with a history of bilateral hip arthroplasty, who presented with Stage IIIB squamous cell carcinoma of the cervix, was sent for lymphangiography. The LAG was deemed suboptimal, most likely because of altered lymphatic drainage engendered by the previous orthopaedic procedures. As the American population ages and hip arthroplasty becomes more common, the value of LAG in such patients will need to be reconsidered.