Fifty-six fine needle aspirations of lymphangiographically abnormal pelvic and para-aortic lymph nodes were performed in 50 patients at The University of Michigan between January 1, 1977, and May 31, 1980. Fine needle aspiration was used both in the initial evaluation of patients with gynecologic malignancies and in the investigation of persistent and recurrent malignant disease. The overall diagnostic accuracy of fine needle aspiration was 74.0%. Fine needle aspiration yielded diagnostic cytologic specimens; it was safe and well tolerated, and in some instances it permitted the diagnosis of lymph node metastasis without laparotomy.