The Usefulness of CT-guided Fine-needle Aspiration of Lymph Nodes in Uterine Cervical Carcinoma

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the usefulness of CT-guided percutaneous needle aspiration(PCNA) of paraaortic and pelvic lymph nodes in patients with uterine cervical carcinoma. MATERIALS AND METHODS: CT-guided PCNA was performed in 18 patients with treated cervical carcinoma. initial clinical stages were CIS in one, lb in three, lib in ten, and IIIb in four cases. We used 20 gauge Westcott needles for aspiration. Mean depth from skin to lymph nodes was 10.0cm in paraaortic group (n=13) and was 7.9cm in pelvic group (n=5). The size of lymph nodes ranged 1.0-3.0cm (mean1.8) and 1.5-5.0cm (mean2.6cm), respectively. RESULTS: All cases with paraaortic lymph node enlargement were proved to be metastatic lymphadenopathy. In five cases with pelvic lymph node enlargement, three were proved to be malignancy and two were negative. Among 16 cases with metastatic lymphadenopathy, eight patients were treated with chemotherapy, five with radiation therapy, and three with chemotherapy and radiotherapy. In two cases with negative results lymph nodes were disappeared or unchanged on follow up CT scans. No complications were encountered during CT-guided PCNA procedure. CONCLUSION: CT-guided PCNA of paraaortic and pelvic lymph nodes is a useful method in determining metastasis from cervical carcinoma and in planning further treatment.