FINE-NEEDLE ASPIRATION OF SUPRACLAVICULAR LYMPH-NODES

Malignancies from many primary sites may metastasize to supraclavicula r lymph nodes (SCLN). We reviewed 100 fine-needle aspirations (FNAs) o f SCLNs. There were three major types of malignancy detected by this m ethod: adenocarcinoma (n=40), squamous cell carcinoma (n=14), and othe r malignancies (n=29). Adenocarcinomas and other malignancies from all sites tended to metastasize to the left SCLN. Squamous cell carcinoma s from all sites, however, tended to appear on the right side. For 61 patients, a previous diagnosis of malignancy had been made within 1 yr of the clinical appearance of the abnormal SCLN. For 20 patients, the primary diagnosis antedated SCLN metastasis by more than 1 yr, partic ularly patients with adenocarcinoma of the breast, prostate, or thyroi d papillary carcinoma. (C) 1996 Wiley-Liss, Inc.