Hysteroscopic injection of tracers in sentinel node detection of endometrial cancer: a feasibility study.
OBJECTIVE
The purpose of this study was to evaluate the feasibility of sentinel lymph node (SLN) detection in endometrial cancer patients with hysteroscopic injection of tracers. Study design Eighteen patients with endometrial adenocarcinoma were submitted to hysteroscopic injection of technetium-99m-labeled colloids and blue-dye subendometrially around the lesion followed by lymphoscintigraphic scans. The SLN was detected by direct visualization of blue-dye marked nodes and by a radio-guided surgery (RGS).


RESULTS
Seventeen hysteroscopic procedures were satisfactory regarding the visualization of the uterine cavity. The compliance to the procedure was acceptable in 15 cases, with no severe complication. A hysterectomy and bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy were performed in all cases, and pelvic lymphadenectomy in 14 cases. The RGS detected a total of 45 SLN with a mean of 3 SLN/patient (range 2 to 4). Blue-dye uptake was observed in 6 (33%) cases. No case presented blue-dye uptake and radioactive-colloid negativity.


CONCLUSIONS
The results seem promising for further controlled studies.
Raspagliesi
Francesco
F
Department of Gynecologic Oncology, Istituto Nazionale Tumori, Milan, Italy.
Ditto
Antonino
A
Kusamura
Shigeki
S
Fontanelli
Rosanna
R
Vecchione
Francesca
F
Maccauro
Marco
M
Solima
Eugenio
E
D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology*; D016889:Endometrial Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology*; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015907:Hysteroscopy; D008197:Lymph Node Excision; D008875:Middle Aged; D011877:Radionuclide Imaging; D019275:Radiopharmaceuticals / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D021701:Sentinel Lymph Node Biopsy; D013668:Technetium Tc 99m Aggregated Albumin / Q000008:administration & dosage*
D019275:Radiopharmaceuticals; D013668:Technetium Tc 99m Aggregated Albumin; C083602:technetium Tc 99m nanocolloid