Ultrasonography-guided fine-needle aspiration cytology before sentinel node biopsy in patients with penile carcinoma.
OBJECTIVE
To assess the accuracy of ultrasonography (US)-guided fine-needle aspiration cytology (FNAC) for detecting occult lymph node metastases in patients with squamous cell carcinoma of the penis.


METHODS
Forty-three patients with 83 clinically node-negative inguinal regions were assessed with US and FNAC. The results were compared with histology from subsequent dynamic sentinel-node biopsy (DSNB) or inguinal lymph node dissection.


RESULTS
Thirty-four groins in 27 patients were considered to be suspicious by US and the lymph nodes were aspirated. Nine nodes contained tumour cells and this was confirmed by subsequent lymph node dissection. The sensitivity and specificity of US-guided FNAC were 39% (nine of 23) and 100% (60 of 60), respectively. The number of groins requiring DSNB was reduced by 11% (nine of 83).


CONCLUSIONS
US-guided FNAC can be used as the initial investigation in clinically node-negative groins. If tumour is confirmed then therapeutic inguinal lymph node dissection can be earlier and fewer DSNBs are required.
Kroon
Bin K
BK
Department of Urology, The Netherlands Cancer Institute, Antoni van Leeuwenhoek Hospital, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
Horenblas
Simon
S
Deurloo
Eline E
EE
Nieweg
Omgo E
OE
Teertstra
Hendrik J
HJ
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D044963:Biopsy, Fine-Needle / Q000379:methods; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000556:secondary; D006801:Humans; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis / Q000175:diagnosis; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010412:Penile Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D021701:Sentinel Lymph Node Biopsy / Q000379:methods; D018084:Ultrasonography, Interventional / Q000379:methods