Prostatic carcinoma: staging with percutaneous lymph node biopsy.

Percutaneous, transperitoneal fine needle biopsy was performed on 10 pelvic lymph nodes in each patient with clinical early stage prostatic carcinoma and normal pedal lymphogram. In 11 of 54 patients (20%) micrometastases were found cytologically. This figure corresponds fairly well with results obtained at internal (surgical) biopsy and at lymphadenectomy. Fine needle biopsy may not detect micrometastases in all patients having metastatic deposits but the procedure can be used for excluding patients from elective surgery. The procedure is non-hazardous and inexpensive. Of course, negative cytology cannot be used with security for clinical management.