Laparoscopic sentinel node procedure using a combination of patent blue and radiocolloid in women with endometrial cancer.
BACKGROUND
We assessed the feasibility of a laparoscopic sentinel node (SN) procedure based on the combined use of radiocolloid and patent blue labeling in patients with endometrial cancer.


METHODS
Seventeen patients (median age, 69 years) with endometrial cancer of stage I (16 patients) or stage II (1 patient) underwent a laparoscopic SN procedure based on combined radiocolloid and patent blue injected pericervically. After the SN procedure, all patients underwent complete laparoscopic pelvic lymphadenectomy and either laparoscopically assisted vaginal hysterectomy (16 patients) or laparoscopic radical hysterectomy (1 patient).


RESULTS
SNs (mean number per patient, 2.6; range, 1-4) were identified in 16 (94.1%) of the 17 patients. Macrometastases were detected in three SNs from two patients by hematoxylin and eosin staining. In three other patients, immunohistochemical analysis identified six micrometastatic SNs and one SN containing isolated tumor cells. No false-negative SN results were observed.


CONCLUSIONS
An SN procedure based on a combination of radiocolloid and patent blue is feasible in patients with early endometrial cancer. Combined use of laparoscopy and this SN procedure permits minimally invasive management of endometrial cancer.
Department of Gynecologic and Breast Cancers, Hôpital Tenon, Assistance Publique des Hôpitaux de Paris, Paris, France. emmanuel.barranger@tnn.ap-hop-paris.fr
Emmanuel
E
Barranger
Annie
A
Cortez
Dany
D
Grahek
Patrice
P
Callard
Serge
S
Uzan
Emile
E
Darai
D000368:Aged; D002277:Carcinoma / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology*; D003102:Colloids; D004396:Coloring Agents; D016889:Endometrial Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D010535:Laparoscopy / Q000379:methods*; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis / Q000175:diagnosis*; D008875:Middle Aged; D011868:Radioisotopes; D011877:Radionuclide Imaging; D012394:Rosaniline Dyes; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D021701:Sentinel Lymph Node Biopsy / Q000379:methods*
D003102:Colloids; D004396:Coloring Agents; D011868:Radioisotopes; D012394:Rosaniline Dyes; C008769:sulfan blue