[Value of computed tomography and lymphography for the demonstration of pelvic lymph node metastases in prostatic cancer].

Between 1977 and 1982 74 patients with cancer of the prostate underwent a pelvic lymphadenectomy. 17 had a preceding lymphangiography and 25 computerized tomography; the sensitivity of the former was 50%, the specificity 56% and the accuracy 53%, whereas the latter produced rates of 25, 100 and 76%, respectively. These percentages are in keeping with the literature. In addition, 61 of the 74 patients had during the lymphadenectomy a frozen section, which was in 87% accurate, but yielded a false negative ratio of 32%. The efficiency is within the figures given in the literature.