POST-LYMPHANGIOGRAPHY FINE NEEDLE ASPIRATION LYMPH-NODE BIOPSY IN STAGING CARCINOMA OF THE PROSTATE - PRELIMINARY-REPORT

Five cases of clinical stage B carcinoma of the prostate are reported. Bipedal lymphangiography showed unequivocal involvement of the pelvic nodes in 3 patients and was equivocal in the other 2. Percutaneous transabdominal fine needle aspiration biopsy of abnormal or suspicious iliac nodes was performed and a positive cytological diagnosis of metastasis was obtained in all 5 patients. Therefore, staging lymphadenectomy and an extensive radical operation were avoided. Percutaneous fine needle biopsy is a reliable, easy and safe technique that should be used in staging prostatic carcinoma whenever there is evidence of metastatic nodal involvement by lymphangiography.