Since Daniels'4 first report, prescalene lymph node biopsy has become an accepted procedure in establishing the diagnosis of various pulmonary and mediastinal diseases. While this procedure has been of great value, its over-all position as a diagnostic procedure has not been established. A review of reported literature reveals that results are extremely variable from clinic to clinic, depending primarily upon the extent of the procedure and the indications for its use. Our indications for the use of the scalene biopsy have been more rigid than those of many clinics, with an increase in the percentage of positive results. Materials and Methods Since July, 1952, 128 scalene lymph node biopsies have been performed at the Mississippi State Sanatorium. Patients are admitted to the sanatorium for actual or presumed tuberculosis; however, many patients are admitted as diagnostic problems, and an outpatient diagnostic clinic is maintained. Except in very young children, this