Prescalene Lymph Node Biopsy

SUMMARY Prescalene lymph node biopsy is a procedure of established value in the diagnosis of intrathoracic disease and in determining resectability of previously diagnosed pulmonary malignant neoplasms. In 62 biopsies in 58 patients, 14 biopsies, or 22.6 per cent yielded abnormal lymph nodes. No operative or postoperative complication was encountered in our series, but three biopsies were inadequately performed as they were reported to contain no lymph nodes. These procedures should be performed by experienced surgeons.