Frozen section of lymph nodes in uterine cervical carcinoma.
The aim of this study was to evaluate the accuracy of frozen section examination of lymph nodes in cervical cancer.


METHODS
This retrospective study was based on 55 patients with stage Ib or IIa invasive cervical carcinoma treated by surgery followed by irradiation. All patients underwent a pelvic lymphadenectomy with frozen section analysis of lymph nodes.


RESULTS
A total of 1249 nodes were removed (23 per patient) and 501 nodes (40%) were examined during the frozen section analysis. The sensitivity of frozen sections analysis in detecting metastatic nodes was 89%, its specificity and positive predictive value was 100% and its negative predictive value was 97%.


CONCLUSIONS
The frozen section diagnosis of pelvic nodes should be performed in patients with a small cervical carcinoma to avoid systematic para-aortic lymphadenectomy. This is an accurate procedure and should be carried out on obturator, external iliac and common iliac nodes.
Morice
P
P
Department of Gynecologic Surgery, Institut Gustave Roussy, Villejuif, France.
Sabourin
J C
JC
Castaigne
D
D
Mercier
S
S
Pautier
P
P
Spatz
A
A
Duvillard
P
P
Michel
G
G
D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000473:pathology* / Q000532:radiotherapy / Q000601:surgery; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000473:pathology* / Q000532:radiotherapy / Q000601:surgery; D005260:Female; D005629:Frozen Sections; D006801:Humans; D008198:Lymph Nodes / Q000473:pathology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009361:Neoplasm Invasiveness; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D002583:Uterine Cervical Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology* / Q000532:radiotherapy / Q000601:surgery